Bertha Wilkinson

Ann Wilkinson, dearly loved mother, passed into the spirit on March 19, 2008. Born in Sullivan County, Indiana, on September 5th, 1905, Ann spent her childhood on the family farm. The oldest of five siblings, she soon learned the importance of hard work. Upon graduating from high school, Ann determined to set her own path and enrolled in business college, where she prepared herself for a career in secretarial work. In 1926 she married and moved to Chicago, Illinois, where she worked at Underwriters Laboratories. During the Great Depression, Ann developed a serious heart condition and was told that she would probably not survive childbirth. However, once again determined to set her own path, she waited until she achieved a full recovery before giving birth to a daughter, Nancy, and then another daughter, Gayle. She ended her secretarial career to raise her two daughters, not returning to work until the age of 60. In retirement, Ann and her husband traveled widely. Upon moving to Sun City, Arizona, in 1970 she devoted herself to volunteer work, earning her 1000 hour pin for her work at Boswell Hospital. Ann is survived by her two daughters, Nancy Carol and Gayle Portugal, her two grandchildren, Smith Nash and Carol Ann Nash, and her two great grandchildren, Casey Nash and Samantha Eisen.