Mary Elizabeth (West) Wilkins

July 22, 1928 – Oct. 5, 2003

Mary Elizabeth Wilkins, nee West, died Sunday, Oct. 5, 2003, in Memorial Hospital of South Bend, Ind., after a long bout with colon cancer. She was born on July 22, 1928, in South Bend. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry W. West; her brothers, Forrest R., Wilbur W., James H., Leo W. and Paul H. West; her former husband, George F. Wilkins; and her beloved daughter, Julia Wilkins Ciszewski, preceded her in death.

Mrs. Wilkins is survived by two daughters, Mary Alice Kiehl and Sarah Wilkins Zovich, both of South Bend; and eight grandchildren, Andrew T. Kiehl of Cincinnati, Ohio, Nolan R. Kiehl of South Bend, William A., Joseph M., Frania J. and Lily B. Ciszewski of Rochester, N.Y., and Beatrice L. and Sophia S. Zovich of South Bend.

Graduating from South Bend Central High School in 1946, Mrs. Wilkins continued her education at Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, earning a BA in education. After teaching elementary school for two years in Kent, she returned to South Bend and taught at Harrison Elementary School for a few years. Mrs. Wilkins also served as a permanent substitute teacher at her daughters’ elementary school, Colfax School. For a number of years, Mrs. Wilkins worked at Pandora’s Book Store, then housed on South Bend Avenue in a former chicken takeout restaurant. She enjoyed her work there, greeting and serving customers, delivering and selling the “New York Times,” and buying and selling used college textbooks. Mrs.Wilkins was an excellent bridge player, rarely turning down a chance to play. She was especially good at remembering the cards that had been played during a game, a skill that always enhanced her play and usually challenged her opponents. A natural, she always bid with an intuitive confidence that was difficult to beat. Mrs. Wilkins was a longtime member of a bridge club that met at the Morris Park Country Club.

She especially enjoyed the company and friendship of the many women with whom she played for over twenty years. Though she was a whiz at bridge, Mrs. Wilkins’ favorite activity was reading. As adults, she and her brothers exchanged grocery sacks stuffed with paperback books, on a monthly basis, for many years. She also visited the library at least once a week. In the South Bend winters, when a storm warning was issued, Mrs. Wilkins would hurriedly drive to the library, not the grocery store, to stock up. Facing a few days without a pile of fresh books, never mind the milk and bread, was unimaginable to her.

Contributions may be sent to the St. Joseph County Library, Mrs. Wilkins’ literary institution of choice. Many will miss the presence of Mary Elizabeth Wilkins in their lives. Her fried bacon and eggs were delectable, her opinions colorful, her laughter contagious, and her hospitality renown. A unique spirit has left us.

Sources: Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com and FindAGrave.com

05/02/2025 EJS

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/167111927/mary-elizabeth-wilkins