Ruth "Nan" Mildred Wilkinson of Caledonia, Missouri was born on December 28, 1928, a daughter to the late Ivory James Bowen and the late Lottie Mae (Lawson) Bowen. Ruth passed away on March 10, 2021 having reached ninety-two years of age.
On February 21, 1947, Ruth was united in marriage to Kenneth E. “Pop” Wilkinson and they shared fifty-one years together.
Those who remain to cherish her memory are three sons: Ernest (wife, Deb) Wilkinson, Luther “Lute” Wilkinson (wife, Marsha), Timothy Wilkinson (wife, Sherry); three daughters: Violet Strange, Patricia “Trish” Emerson (husband, Eddie), Kathy Halbert (husband, Jeffery); brother, Buddy Bowen; three sisters: Hazel Peebles, Loretta DeClue, and Edna LaChance; twenty grandchildren; a host of great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Eugenia Wilkinson; son-in-law, Randal Strange; and many dear nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, Ruth was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Kenneth “Pop” Wilkinson on January 18, 1998; six children: Mary Nelson, Donna Wilkinson, Yvonne Wilkinson, Sandra Wilkinson, Emanuel Wilkinson, Kenneth Michael Wilkinson; son-in-law, Paul Ney; great-grandson, Holden Stafford; great-granddaughter, Jessica Warden; and siblings: Delores Dodson, Lilly Baker, Myrtle Kean, Willie Bowen, Ernest Bowen, Ruby Anderson.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 13, 2021 from 4:30 pm until 8:00 pm. Visitation will resume on Sunday, March 14, 2021, beginning at 11:00 am.
A funeral service to honor Ruth will begin at 1:00 pm on Sunday, March 14, 2021, held in the DeClue Memorial Chapel with Pastor Rick Wade officiating. Interment will follow, held at New Diggins Cemetery in Mineral Point, Missouri.
All funeral arrangements have been cared for by DeClue Funeral Home.