Blanche (Bowers) Wilkey

Blanche (Bowers) Wilkey, 90, of Veedersburg, Indiana, passed away 8:21 p.m. Friday, March 16, 2018, at St. Vincent Hospice in Indianapolis.   Blanche was the youngest of ten children born to James and Hazel (Brewer) Bowers in Covington, Indiana, on February 17, 1928.  Blanche attended Covington schools and resided in Covington and Veedersburg throughout her life.   Blanche married Arthur “Tim” Wilkey in May 1953, and they attended Community Bible Church.  He preceded her in death on April 30, 2011.  Surviving family include two sons: James (Sondra) Evans of Brownsburg, and Bruce (Debbie) Swingle of Veedersburg; two daughters: Marlene (Greg) Lighty of Veedersburg, and Marilyn (Doug) Martin of Florence, Kentucky; ten grandchildren: Missy Duncan, Shelly Keeling, Scott Evans, Chad Swingle, Christy Nickle, Ryan Lighty, Kevin Lighty, Kyle Martin, Stacy Martin, and Megan Johnson; thirteen great grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, and special friends. During her working years, she was employed at General Electric in Danville, Illinois, and was an original employee of Zula Payton at Payton’s Grocery in Veedersburg.  She was also a homemaker, and family was always her first priority.  In her free time, Blanche enjoyed baking, sewing, quilting, crafting, woodworking, gardening and playing bingo, bunco, and card games.  After retirement, Blanche and Tim particularly enjoyed traveling and camping with family and friends.   Also preceding her in death were two husbands: Oscar Evans and Robert Swingle; and nine siblings: Jennevive Bowers, Robert Bowers, an infant brother, Margaret Puckett, Gladys Bowers, Sarah “Sally” McCollum Oilar, Carl Bowers, Paul Bowers, and C. Marie Lawson Haas.Friends may call at Dickerson Funeral Home in Veedersburg from noon to 2:00 PM on March 21, 2018.  Pastor Gary Johnson will officiate services at 2:00 PM, and burial will follow at Rockfield Cemetery near Veedersburg.