Rhoda Wilkison

Rhoda Marie Wilkison, the daughter of Harry Stewart and Anna (Miller) Wilkison, was born on Monday November 15, 1926 in Fulda, Bondin Township, Murray County, MN. She was the tenth of ten children and grew up on the family farm where she was born, attended Fulda Public Schools and graduated from Fulda High School in 1944.

Starting in the late 1920's through the early 1940's six of Rhoda's siblings moved to Chambersburg, PA, near the birthplace of their father Harry, in New Franklin, Guilford Township, Franklin County, PA. After graduating high school, Rhoda joined her siblings who were living in a duplex at 410 East Catherine Street. During her early years in Chambersburg, Rhoda attended Chambersburg Business School and earned a private pilots license. Together with her brother Raymond and sisters Bernice and Mildred, who also had their licenses, they were known as the “Flying Wilkison's” and they traveled back to Fulda frequently to visit their family. In January 1945 Rhoda started her first job as a clerk at Letterkenny Army Ordnance Depot. Due to a reduction in force at the end of World War II her job ended at Letterkenny in July 1946. In August 1946 she started working for York Farm Credit as a loan officer; she retired in December 1987 after 41 years with the company. From 1988 to 1989 Rhoda worked part time as a receptionist for Dr's Peter M. Showan and William M Shord.

In September 1997 Rhoda moved to Menno Haven Retirement Community in Chambersburg. In May 2018, Rhoda entered Brookview Nursing Center at Menno Haven and passed away there on Wednesday May 5, 2021 at the age of 94 years, 5 months and 20 days. She will be sorely missed by niece Karen Cunard and husband Jeff, nephew James Dale, Jr., grand niece Leslie (Dale) DeMott and husband Daniel and their children Douglas and Laurel. Rhoda was always an important part of our family gatherings and celebrations. In these last years we lovingly provided her care and support.

Rhoda had been a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Fulda and Central Presbyterian Church and Saint Paul's United Methodist Church in Chambersburg. She volunteered with the American Cancer Society, enjoyed playing golf, bowling and spending time with her friends and family.

Rhoda is survived by three nieces, six nephews, their spouses, partners and families;
Roger and Arlene (Dorpinghaus)Wilkison of Tracy, MN, Ann (Shank) and Thomas Selle of Gaithersburg, MD, Robert Shank of Mifflinburg, PA, Spencer and Leann (Zins) Enninga of Fulda, MN, Pat (Wilkison) Defries and Ted Vershey of Bozeman, MT, Allen Wilkison and Lois Schmidt of Tracy, MN, Rodney and Jane (Harbitz) Wilkison of Lynd, MN, Karen (Dale) and Jeff Cunard of Chambersburg, PA and James Dale, Jr. of Fayetteville, PA.

Rhoda was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers; Kenneth, Raymond and George Wilkison and six sisters; Emma, Jessie and Ruth Wilkison, Bernice (Wilkison) Shank, Mildred (Wilkison) Enninga and Maude (Wilkison) Dale.

Services will be private. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Chambersburg, PA. Burial will be at Norland Cemetery, Chambersburg, PA. Online condolences may be expressed at www.geiselfuneralhome.com .