Gladys Wilkins

GLADYS GROTHE WILKINS passed away February 6, 2017 at Edgemere Retirement Home in Dallas, Texas. She was born December 4, 1926 in Pleasant Hill, Nebraska. Her father was John James Grothe and her mother was Josie West Grothe. She had two brothers, Charles and John, and three sisters, Alice, Mildred and Norma. In 1929 the family moved to Geneva, Nebraska where her father bought the Geneva Milling Company.

She graduated from Geneva High School in 1944 and was Valedictorian of the class. She was on the debate team and played first clarinet in the high school band. She was also a cheerleader. She then went to the University of Nebraska where she majored in psychology with a minor in economics. She worked in the Placement Division both at Nebraska and Graduate School of Business at Standford University. She was president of Alpha Phi sorority.

On April 14, 1949 she married Robert E. Wilkins at the Methodist Church in Geneva , Nebraska. They located in Des Moines, Iowa where Robert joined Principal Financial Group, retiring as Vice President on June 30, 1990. The Wilkins had a second home at Laguna Niguel, California close to the Pacific Ocean.

Gladys' work history includes Executive Secretary to Dr. Henry Harman, President of Drake University and later, Administrative Assistant in the trust department of Wells Fargo Bank. She also earned a teachers certificate at Drake University and did substitute teaching at Hoover High School.

The family has three sons, Robert Stuart, John Charles, and James David and one daughter, Margaret Elizabeth Kilgore. Rob married Diane Jurkovic and their children are Stephen Walker and Dr. Elizabeth Campbell Ross. Rob and Diane's daughter Katherine Jessie predeceased Gladys. Steve has a daughter Mia and Liz and her husband Jason Ross have a daughter Breanna. John married Marti Vartanian and they have three children, Matthew Robert, Eric Thomas, and Sarah Elizabeth. Margaret married Dr. David Kilgore and they have five children, Anna Leigh, Paul Blanton, Claire Watson, Grace Ellen and Madeleine Walker Kilgore McBee, married to Michael McBee.

The Wilkins are members of Plymouth Church in Des Moines, Iowa, Des Moines Golf and Country Club, and the Dana Point Yacht Club. Gladys was president of the Plymouth Church Women's Fellowship. They are former members of the Des Moines Embassy Club, Glen Oaks Country Club and Embassy Club West. They owned a number of sailboats over the years on Iowa lakes and the Pacific Ocean.

Honorary pallbearers are Robert Stuart Wilkins, John Charles Wilkins, James David Wilkins, Stephen Walker Wilkins, Matthew Robert Wilkins, Eric Thomas Wilkins and Paul Blanton Kilgore.

A memorial service will be held in the Performing Arts room at Edgemere, 8523 Thackery Street, Dallas, Texas 75225 on Saturday, March 4 at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Father Donald Johnson officiating. Memorials may be sent to Mayo Clinic or Alzheimer's Association.