Betty Wilkins

Betty was born on July 24th, 1929 in Houston, Texas to Opal and Herbert Byers. She grew up in Houston, Texas in the Heights and Lindale areas of North Houston. She met the love of her life, Lonnie P. Wilkins, Jr. while they both attended Roosevelt Elementary School. They were married on July 29th, 1945 before services at Lindale Church of Christ in Houston. Dick (as he was called) and Betty remained married sweethearts for 61 years, until his death.

They lived, while raising their family, in Houston, then Spring, Texas, and ultimately settling in Decker Prairie near Tomball, Texas. Betty worked as a telephone operator, a healthcare administrator, and retired as a telephone technician at Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. She and Dick co-founded W&W Telephone Co., Inc. in 1983 and served as an officer of the company until her death.

Betty and Dick raised five children along the way. Their favorite times was taking their family on annual vacations and weekend trips by tractor and trailer to picnics in the woods along Spring Creek. After the “kids” were grown, they loved camping and traveling in their RV with fellow camping club friends and family.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her loving sisters Shirley Jackson, Jackie Neville, Judy Provence, and Betty’sgrandson Tyson Wilkins. There were other family loved ones who preceded her as well. She leaves behind her five children - Lonnie (Nick) and Janie Wilkins, Rick and Gail Wilkins, Karen and Jim Ouellette, Michael (Mike) and Gail Wilkins, and Paul and Denise Wilkins. Other surviving members include numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, in-laws as well as numerous friends and other family who loved her throughout her life.

The Wilkins family wish a special thanks to Selam Celestin and her daughter Melena for their caring and comforting caregiving during the final months of Betty’s life at her home. They, and their family, are truly a part of Betty’s wonderful family.

Viewing and visitation will be held on Monday, January 17th, 2022 at Brookside Funeral Home in Houston starting at 9am, and followed by the graveside service and burial at 10am in the adjacent Brookside Cemetery.

Pallbearers include great grandchildren Zach Wilkins, Ethan Wilkins, Briton Wilkins, Josh Wilkins, Matt Mason, Kaleb Wilkins, and Owen Wilkins.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.brooksidefuneralhomelauder.com for the Wilkins family.