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Mrs. Wilkins Dies in Home
Mrs. E.J. Wilkins, 87, resident of Decatur for more than 50 years, died in her home, 326 West North street, at 10:40 a.m. yesterday of complications resulting from a fractured hip suffered in a fall Feb. 24.
The former Amanda Katherine Seely, daughter of Samuel and Rebecca Seely, she was born Dec. 2, 1853, at Burgetown, Pa., near Pittsburgh. When she was a small child her parents moved to Illinois, coming by boat down the Ohio river to Shawneetown, and settled at Equality, Ill.
She was married to Edward J. Wilkins June 13, 1878, and soon afterward they moved to Champaign. More than 50 years ago they moved to Decatur. Mr. Wilkins was, at the time of his death, Feb. 24, 1940, the oldest living Wabash engineer. They had been married 62 years.
During a “panic” in the nineties, Mrs. Wilkins worked in a “charity store” which was opened in downtown Decatur, because there were no organized charities at that time. She was a lifelong member of the Methodist church, and one of the oldest members of the Order of Eastern Star.
She leaves a daughter, Mrs. Homer Bateman, 326 West north street, and a son, Harry L. Wilkins, 1011 North Water street. Two sons, H.O. Wilkins and Edward J. Wilkins, Jr., died after reaching manhood. A grandson, Arden Kenneth Wilkins, died when he was four years old.
Funeral arrangements under the direction of Brintlingers funeral home are incomplete. Burial will be in Greenwood cemetery. Friends may call at the home, 326 West North street.
Published in The Decatur Herald (Decatur, Illinois), Monday, June 23, 1941
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