Mildred Wilkins

WILKINS, MILDRED K. (WARD), completed her earthly journey in the early morning hours of October 18, 2013, and to again be reunited with loved ones gone before.

She especially longed to see again, and be with her beloved and only child, Michelle (age 19 d.1984), and her sweetheart and husband, Leon (age 79, d.2012), and many more family and friends.

Mildred was the firstborn of four on October 7, 1934 to the late Ruby A. Ward and Albert Ward. The needs of the day required they move to Louisville where she eventually met her future husband, Leon, and they married in 1953 after both graduated from Valley High in 1952. They were married almost 60 years and lived in their lovely home from day one. As so often happens, much sunshine, AND rain, visited their lives. Aunt Minnie (as many, both older and younger so fondly called her) suffered a debilitating stroke at age 42 leaving her somewhat disabled the rest of her life. She refused to let a 'little thing' like this deter her. Two years later in 1984 her beloved daughter, Michelle, was fatally injured in an auto crash. Millie (another nickname) put her Christian faith to work, and with love and support from God, her husband, friends and family was able to slowly reclaim her life. Throughout her life she lived with serious health problems and had a dual heart valve replacement some years ago. Again she moved forward with strength and resolve that amazed not only her family, but all her doctors as well.

Mildred achieved the high post of Worthy Matron at the Valley Station Eastern Star Lodge at a very young age, and several other honors and tributes bestowed her over the years. She loved her TV cooking shows, all U of K sports, and Olympic Skating was a thing of beauty for her to watch on TV. Indeed, she had class, poise, and grace in abundance...and did it while making it look easy. She didn't even know she had those natural attributes. If you visited her home, whether family, friend, or new acquaintance, you just might feel you were her best friend in the world, bar none. And you just might have been right, too. She really was 'the real deal'...She taught many of us much....how to live and even how to die. She was our mentor, hero, and our Family Matriarch. She was almost magical and had a special aura about her all the time. We were blessed to have had her so long. But it seems so short....

She was also predeceased by her sister, Dorothy Ward Brown; brother-in-law, Bertrand (Virginia) Wilkins; Mr. and Mrs Sanford (Edna) Wilkins; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and many lifelong friends.

Mildred leaves behind to cherish memories of her: her brothers, A. Ray Ward and Darrell E. (Paula) Ward; brothers-in-law, Richard L. (Betty) Wilkins and James T. Brown; nieces, Sherry (Pete) Peter, Tyleen (Charlie) Armstrong, Cyonne (Terry) Thompson, Melissa (Chuck) Haddaway, Stacy (Joe) Betz, Georgann (Tony) Nichols, Tammy (Jason) Getz, Kelly (Brian) Mitchell, Amanda (Shawn) Smith, Gale Clayton and Kim Davis; nephews, Kevin R. Ward, Scott Wilkins, Nick (Brandy) Scott, Josh (Nikki) Armstrong and Aaron Armstrong; a host of little 2nd-3rd generation nieces and nephews; and a myriad of lifelong friends too numerous to list.

Our hearts are broken that she is now away from us, but we are comforted believing that although her earthly life is completed she is now truly at home with her Heavenly Father and those many she has so missed and loved, and her new day of eternal perfect life is just beginning.

A special thanks to Paula Ward and Betty Wilkins who helped guide Mildred's life for the last year, and were her constant companions who assisted her with varied tasks.

The family wishes to thank each member of the Staff, and every resident of Elmcroft Senior Living in Valley Station for the welcome of love and care you gave our Mildred. You made her smile again and have fun during her brief, but happy time at yours, and her home.

Visitation will be at Owen Funeral Home, Dixie Highway location on Monday from 1-8 p.m. with services on Tuesday at 11 a.m. Minister David Scott will be officiating. Following her service, Mildred will be laid to rest in Louisville Memorial Gardens West.





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Published in The Courier-Journal on Oct. 20, 2013


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