Obituary: Elizabeth Louise Wilkinson

Elizabeth Louise Wilkinson (“Betty”), age 91, Prospect Heights, IL and Sister Bay, WI, died unexpectedly September 16, 2015. Betty was born on June 19, 1924 to Walter and Laura (Harker) Koehler in Madison, WI; grew up in Morgantown, WV; graduated from West Virginia University; and did graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin where she met her husband, Don. They were married in 1947 and enjoyed 68 wonderful years together. After their marriage Betty and Don lived in Madison, WI, where their three children were born. They moved to Annandale, VA in 1975, and then to Prospect Heights, IL in 1994. She enjoyed decades of summers in Sister Bay, WI where they have a summer home. She also enjoyed volunteer work for the YWCA, the Lee Mansion in Arlington National Cemetery, the United Methodist Church, PEO, Delta Gamma, and other organizations.

Betty is survived by her husband Don; their three children Dave (Donna) Green Bay, WI, Nancy (Ray) Ibarra, Lenexa, KS, and Karen (Kirk) Brown, Wilmette, IL; seven grandchildren Ryan (Kate) Wilkinson, Lindsay (Dan) Ringle, Jason (Shelley) Brown, Joshua Ibarra, Jillian Brown, Jeremy Ibarra, and Julianne Ibarra; and two great-grandchildren. She is also survived by two sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brother, her brother-in-law, and her grandson (Dustin Wilkinson).

Betty was a faith-filled woman full of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” She was a gracious, welcoming hostess who loved to cook and bake. She loved and cared for her family, prayerfully supported and inspired each one, and wanted the best for them. She valued her friends and was always other-centered. Her life verse was Micah 6:8, “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church in Arlington Heights, IL on Friday, September 25 at 11 a.m. with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. A graveside service will be held at the Little Sister Cemetery in Door County, WI on Thursday, September 24 at 2 p.m.

Memorial gifts may be sent to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 1500 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 200, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 or to First United Methodist Church, 1903 E Euclid Ave, Arlington Heights, IL 60004.