Evelyn Wilkens' Obituary
Evelyn Ruth Buehrer Wilkens, 94, died Thurs., July 28, 2016 in Strongsville, OH.
Always busy and productive, Mrs. Wilkens volunteered actively throughout the Bowling Green community, where she had resided since the early 1940s.
She worked as a member of the Wood County Hospital Guild in many capacities including gift shop sales, puppet therapy, messenger service, delivery of Wheeled Meals, and multiple fundraisers.
A member of the First Presbyterian Church in Bowling Green, she served on its Board of Deacons for several terms and helped to run the Deacons’ Shop from 1972 through 2010. She also helped to organize the annual Deacons’ Christmas party. In 1999, Mrs. Wilkens was designated an Honorary Life Member of Presbyterian Women. The church recognized her decades of service in 2002.
In the 1960s, she was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader, Sunday school teacher, and Kenwood Elementary School volunteer librarian.
Mrs. Wilkens served as the Ward 3 chairman for the March of Dimes. She also sold daffodils for the Wood County Chapter of the American Cancer Society at their annual drives. An avid gardener, Mrs. Wilkens was a two-time Beautiful Bowling Green neighborhood winner.
The Bowling Green Women’s Bowling Association inducted Mrs. Wilkens into its Hall of Fame and honored her with a Lifetime Award in 1998. She bowled on various leagues beginning in the 1940s. Family and friends celebrated her 80th birthday with a bowling party at Al-Mar Lanes. In 2003 she was named to the inaugural class of the Flower Basket Ladies Major League Hall of Fame.
Mrs. Wilkens was born in 1922 at the Archbold, OH home of her parents Madonna (Goodell) and Eldon Buehrer, both deceased. She resided in Luckey, OH with Dr. Harvey and Katherine (Goodell) Stuchell while attending Troy High School, where she was a cheerleader and 1940 graduate. Following high school, the Cardi Beauty School in Columbus, OH licensed her as a managing cosmetologist. For nine years she owned and operated a Bowling Green beauty salon with the late Monty Sader.
In 1946, she married Richard B. Wilkens, a painter and decorator, in Bowling Green. They met after Mr. Wilkens returned from service in Africa in the Army Air Corp during World War II. Mr. Wilkens was a Life Brotherhood member of the Elks, and Mrs. Wilkens was a past member of the Lady Elks. Mr. Wilkens died in 1989.
Evelyn Wilkens is survived by her daughter, Kathie L. Wilkens (Joseph F. Wollet), grandson Benjamin Wilkens Wollet, and brothers Eugene Brodbeck and Keith Brodbeck. She was preceded in death by brothers Kenneth Buehrer, Robert Brodbeck, Roger Brodbeck, Harold Brodbeck, and Paul Brodbeck, and by an infant sister.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m. Sat., Aug. 13 at the First Presbyterian Church. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to the church, 126 S. Church St., Bowling Green, OH 43402.
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