Mary Elaine Wilkinson

Mary Elaine Wilkinson, 86, of Columbia City, Ind. passed away at 11:27 a.m. Sunday, September 7, 2014 at Parkview Whitley Hospital. Born on November 26, 1927 in Fort Wayne, she was the daughter of Edward O. Sr. and Lucille Mary (Jackson) Bowser.

She graduated from North Side High School with the Class of 1946.On June 1, 1947 she married Robert C. Wilkinson and they moved from Fort Wayne to Columbia City in 1954. In 1986, she moved to Florida before moving back to Columbia City in September of 2013. Besides being a devoted wife, mother, and homemaker, Mary had worked at the Garden Gift Shop and Dana Weatherhead in Columbia City. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in St. Petersburg, Fla. and Zion Lutheran Church in Columbia City.

Survivors include her daughter, Rhonda S. (Robert) Happ of Fort Wayne; sons, Steven R. (Betty) Wilkinson of Columbia City and Terry P. (Kathy) Wilkinson of Huntington; brother, Edward (Thelma) Bowser of Defiance, OH; 20 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson.She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Robert Wilkinson; and sister, Sharon Heller.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 10, 2014 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, September 11, 2014 at the funeral home with Rev. Phil Rittner officiating. Burial will follow at Covington Memorial Gardens in Fort Wayne. Memorial gifts may be given in Mrs. Wilkinson's memory to Riley Childrens Foundation.