Obituary of Helene Jenner Wilkin

Helene Jenner Wilkin - mother, teacher, and faithful follower of Jesus - entered His presence on March 2, 2022 at the age of 100.

Family members include her daughters Judy (Paul) Hatfield of Roanoke, VA, Joyce (Landis) Duncan of Salem, VA, and Joilene (Ron) Kettle of Castaic, CA; grandsons Timothy (Jamie) Hatfield and Mark Ratliff; grandchildren Ashton Pas, Elisa Hatfield, Scott Ratliff, Wilkin Hatfield, Josiah Pas, and Clae Hatfield; many step-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren, and step-great-great-grandchildren; treasured brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; nieces and nephews, and their spouses and children.

She was preceded in death by her husband Forrest Wilkin; daughter Joni Sue Wilkin; two sons-in-law Galen Winters and Bart Davidson; and granddaughters Christa Hatfield and Suzanne Pas-Ratliff.

Helene was born on April 27, 1921 in Parkersburg, IL. She was an only child and doted on by her parents and Uncle Charlie Jenner. Helene and Forrest Wilkin met at Cincinnati Bible College on a blind date, and they married in 1943. They served in ministry and made loving homes for their four girls in Orleans, IN; Belville, OH; Mount Vernon, OH, and Roanoke, VA. Helene was a teacher at heart, and never missed an opportunity to tell a story conveying the love of Jesus. Throughout her life, she expressed His love as a wife and mother, a teacher in Ohio, a preacher’s wife, and a Sunday School teacher wherever she worshiped. In her last Sunday School post, she taught a class full of attentive teenagers at the age of 78.

In their retirement, Helene loved traveling (and Forrest went too) throughout the United States and abroad. She was an avid reader and voted in every single election through 2021. Helene took this right and responsibility very seriously. She was a huge fan of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and enjoyed watching them play sports and instruments. She also loved cheering on her beloved Indiana Hoosiers, Ohio State Buckeyes and Virginia Tech Hokies, in person when possible. Helene could - and would - watch football, basketball and golf for hours and speak knowledgeably about scores, statistics and strategies. Even when her eyesight and hearing failed, she would be captivated by play-by-plays of games and color commentary by anyone willing to speak into her microphone.

We will celebrate her life eternal on Saturday, March 26, 2022 at a graveside service at 11:15 a.m. at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens in Roanoke, VA.