Rosemarie Wilkins

Rosemarie (King) Wilkins, age 88, of Colorado Springs, CO passed away peacefully early in the morning on Wednesday, December 18, 2024. Rosemarie was born on February 22, 1936 to Harold R. King and Clara (Mayer) King in Erie, PA. She was the youngest (a twin) of five children: Helen, Irene, William, MaryAnn (twin), and Rosemarie.

Rosemarie was born and raised in Erie, PA, where she graduated from Villa Maria Academy for Girls. As a young woman she worked in the business sector and also did modeling for retail stores. She met the love of her life Dwight Truman Wilkins in 1959. They were engaged for about a year and married on September 17, 1960 at St. Peter Cathedral Catholic Church in Erie, PA. They lived in Erie for a few years thereafter. Dwight was enlisted in the US Naval Reserve, so their family moved from Erie to Philadelphia, PA for a short time; then to Rochester, NY for several years; and then to Colorado Springs, CO in October 1972, where they raised their family and retired. Rosemarie and Dwight bowled and enjoyed playing cards with friends and family when they were younger before moving to Colorado. She worked in the personnel/human resource department of JC Penney and retired in 2003.

Rosemarie was a very devout catholic and her faith in our Lord God was unwavering. She and Dwight were very involved with their church, Holy Apostles Catholic Church in Colorado Springs, CO, as Eucharistic Ministers, and Rosemarie, as a wife to a Knights of Columbus member, was very involved helping out with church functions. She was very personable and caring to all that she met and whenever she had a family and friends get-together, she went all out to be sure everyone was happy and had plenty to eat! She loved gardening and had beautiful flowers planted throughout the yard. Some of her favorites were the roses, lilacs, and lilies, but she had a variety of other flowers growing in her gardens as well. She enjoyed attending live music concerts and visits to “the beach house” and the ocean in California. She loved and was very devoted to her husband Dwight, the love of her life, who she took care of for quite a few years when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease until his death. Dwight passed away on April 2, 2023. They were married for 62 years. The greatest joys in her life were her love and devotion to her family; traveling to Missouri, Texas, California, and trips to share time with their children and grandchildren.

She is survived by her physical link to this earth, her twin sister MaryAnn Heintz, whom she loved and adored, their bond was inseparable; and also her dearest friends, for a lifetime and beyond- Doree Rudolph and Denise Smith. Her children; daughter Kathleen Egan and husband Robert; two sons Gregory Wilkins and wife Dianne, and David Wilkins and wife Teresa; all whom she loved and supported in every way throughout their life journey and who thought she was a wonderful and amazing mother. Her grandsons: Aaron Wilkins, Geoffrey Wilkins, Nicholas Wilkins and Jacob Wilkins; who were treasures of her heart, she loved them all, each for their own special qualities, humanity, and love of life. As well as numerous nieces and nephews who were dear to her heart.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Dwight T. Wilkins; father Harold King; mother Clara King; her sister Helen (King) Habershon, brother William King, and cousin Dolores Parker; and just this past year, her sister Irene (King) Hughes, and cousin Monsignor Richard Mayer.

She was a beautiful woman and welcomed all she met with compassion and a smile! She loved her family, relatives, friends, neighbors, and community! She will be greatly missed, and live on in all our hearts and memories! Memorial donation may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital www.stjude.org Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.dove-witt.com for the Wilkins family.