Internet image of Phyllis Wilkinson 2008 (click on picture to enlarge) Phyllis M. Wilkinson, 80, of Peoria, Ill., died at 5:50 P.M. Sunday (June 22, 2008) from injuries sustained in an automobile accident near Bradford, Ill.
She was born May 17, 1928 in Carroll, Iowa, to B. E. & Marian K. (Knight) Friend. She married John P. Wilkinson on June 28, 1952 in Indianola, Iowa. He preceded her in death on March 3, 1977.
She is survived by a son: William B. (Georgann) Norton Jr. of Kansas City, MO; 1 grandson: Will (Rebecca) Norton of White Bear Lake, MN, and 2 great grandchildren: Leah & Liam Norton. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and brothers: James B. Friend and Phillip Friend.
She graduated from Scranton, Iowa, grade school and high school and received her bachelor's degree in education from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. She taught in Altoona, Glidden and Ankeny, Iowa, prior to moving to Peoria in 1956. She then taught kindergarten at Glen Oak Grade School for 37 years. Following retirement she helped with the pre-school program at Southside Mission and taught at Peoria Christian School. She had been a member of Grace Presbyterian Church and Northwoods Community Church and attended Bethany Baptist Church, all in Peoria. She volunteered at Proctor Hospital and was a member of P.E.O., and D.A.R. and A.D.K. A
visitation wAS held from 5-7 PM Wednesday at the Cumerford-Hurd Funeral Home, 428 W. McClure Ave., Peoria, and one hour prior to services at the Northwoods Community Church at 10:00 AM Thursday. Interment wAS in Parkview Cemetery in Peoria. Memorials may be directed to the John Wilkinson Scholarship Fund at Woodruff High School, where her husband was the principal at the time of his death.
