Barbara Marie Bader

Barbara Wikinson Bader passed away on July 28, 2026, at Mcleod Hospital in Florence, SC. She was born on October 15, 1949, to Esther and Hugh Wilkinson in Mt. Carmel, Illinois. She married her soulmate William (Bill) Bader on June 19, 1971, and they shared 55 amazing years of marriage. She graduated from Mt. Carmel High School in 1969 and worked at Meisner’s assembly plant and IGA bakery until her marriage. Barbara will be remembered as a devoted wife, loving mother, cherished grandmother and special great grandmother, Nana. She was very proud of her children and loved bringing her family together, especially through the meals they prepared together during the holidays and special celebrations.

Barbara had a deep faith in Jesus Christ as her Savior, was a practicing Catholic, and had a daily routine of saying her prayers and speaking to her Lord.

She enjoyed music and going to see the Corvettes and Roadrunners in her teenage years up until her marriage, and other concerts in the northern Virginia area including the Beach Boys, Stevie Nicks, and the Four Seasons. In the last several years, she enjoyed seeing all the Tribute Artists in Myrtle Beach such as Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Blues Brothers, and several others. She was a music fanatic and knew all the lyrics to her favorite songs, of which there were many. Ironically, she met her future husband at a Corvettes dance in May 1970.

It was her purpose in life to care for her children and grandchildren, and they would come to her for advice and absolutely adored her. She loved supporting them in all their academic and sporting endeavors. Simply put, she was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. In her early marriage years, all the neighborhood children also looked at her as a mother figure.

She enjoyed caring for the beautiful birds that visited her backyard. This brought her such joy and happiness. It was a daily routine to ensure they all had a variety of food, and a clean water supply to clean off . She especially loved caring for hummingbirds, eastern bluebirds, cardinals, doves, and finches and she had a multitude of them in her backyard. They all came to know her as their friend and caretaker as well. Many mornings were spent sitting outside enjoying watching them play and frolic. She also had a talent for tending to all the plants and flowers she grew. If anyone was blessed with a green thumb, she surely was. There was not a soul that she did not touch, as everyone she met, it was as if an angel was greeting you.

Barb is preceded in death by her parents, Hugh, and Ester Wilkinson, four brothers, Charles, Joey, Richard, and Clifford Wilkinson, all of Mt. Carmel, IL, two sisters, Joann Killingsworth of San Angelo, TX and Alice Wilkinson of Mt. Carmel, IL, grandson James Fisher of Fredericksburg, VA.

Barb leaves behind her loving husband Bill, children, Brian (Clay) Bader of Martinsburg, WV; Bridget Fisher (Chris) of Little River, SC; Beth (Jerry) McDermott of Little River, SC; and Brittany Bader of Fredericksburg, Virginia; thirteen grandchildren, Tatiana (Jason) DeLeon, Devon (Phebe) Weaver, Kyrsten Bader, Preston (Samara) Knight, Conor McDermott, Rose Fisher, Caylee Corvetti, Carter McDermott, Kylee McDermott, Belinda Bader, Zoey Bader, Zachary Bader, and Tobias Green; and three great-‘grandchildren, Jaylani, Jaxon and Jay Marie DeLeon. She also leaves behind her siblings; sister, Doris of McLeansboro, IL; brothers Tim of Cisne, IL, and Danny and Larry of Albion, IL, and Gilbert, Kenneth, and Marshall of Mt. Carmel, IL.

Visitation will be held at Lee Funeral Home, 11840 Highway 90, Little River, South Carolina 29566, on August 5, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

A Funeral Service will take place at Lee Funeral Home, 11840 Highway 90, Little River, South Carolina 29566, on August 6, 2026, at 2:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of Barbara may be made to the Lowcountry Food Bank in Charleston, SC by donating online at www.lowcountryfoodbank.org. or

Lowcountry Food Bank

4716 Northgate Blvd

Myrtle Beach SC 29577