Official Obituary of
Elva Lorea Kyle Wilkes
January 2, 1934 ~ July 20, 2018 (age 84) 84 Years Old
Elva Wilkes Obituary
Elva Lorea Kyle McGraw Wilkes, 84, of Lakeland, Florida, passed away on July 20, 2018.
She was born on January 2, 1934 in Haines City, Florida. She was the daughter of the late William Charles McGraw and Verda Lorea Gaffney McGraw. She was also preceded in death by her sisters, Betty Jo Kendrick and Gloria Jean Sanders; and her daughter, Leslie Hooten.
Elva is survived by her loving husband of 57 years, James B. Wilkes; her children, Gary Wilkes, Karen Zick (Donald), Joel Wilkes (Diane), Glen Wilkes (Irma), Patrick Wilkes (Marsha), and Kevin Wilkes (Charleen); sisters, Joan Thomas and Linda Sue Porter; 22 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and 3 great great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Elva worked for the Lakeland Ledger for 11 years as a proof reader. She also worked as a corrections officer for over 10 years for the Polk County Sheriff’s Department and retired from there. She was a past secretary of Kathleen Little League.
Elva was a proud member of the Davenport Historical Society where she is the author of two non-published books that they have on display there, “Journey to the Past” and “Remembering Davenport.” She also authored books about her family titled “The Family Tree”, “Wilkes Family History and Recipe”, “Recipes and Memories”, and “Granny’s Old Timey Cures.” She was also an artist. Her favorite saying was “A person can do anything they make up their mind to do.” Her favorite religious song was “In The Garden.”
The family will receive friends on Saturday, July 28, 2018 from 12:30-1:00PM with a memorial service starting at 1:00PM at Lanier Funeral & Cremation Services, 717 Griffin Road, Lakeland, FL 33805.
Online condolences can be left for the family at lanier.care.
She was born on January 2, 1934 in Haines City, Florida. She was the daughter of the late William Charles McGraw and Verda Lorea Gaffney McGraw. She was also preceded in death by her sisters, Betty Jo Kendrick and Gloria Jean Sanders; and her daughter, Leslie Hooten.
Elva is survived by her loving husband of 57 years, James B. Wilkes; her children, Gary Wilkes, Karen Zick (Donald), Joel Wilkes (Diane), Glen Wilkes (Irma), Patrick Wilkes (Marsha), and Kevin Wilkes (Charleen); sisters, Joan Thomas and Linda Sue Porter; 22 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and 3 great great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Elva worked for the Lakeland Ledger for 11 years as a proof reader. She also worked as a corrections officer for over 10 years for the Polk County Sheriff’s Department and retired from there. She was a past secretary of Kathleen Little League.
Elva was a proud member of the Davenport Historical Society where she is the author of two non-published books that they have on display there, “Journey to the Past” and “Remembering Davenport.” She also authored books about her family titled “The Family Tree”, “Wilkes Family History and Recipe”, “Recipes and Memories”, and “Granny’s Old Timey Cures.” She was also an artist. Her favorite saying was “A person can do anything they make up their mind to do.” Her favorite religious song was “In The Garden.”
The family will receive friends on Saturday, July 28, 2018 from 12:30-1:00PM with a memorial service starting at 1:00PM at Lanier Funeral & Cremation Services, 717 Griffin Road, Lakeland, FL 33805.
Online condolences can be left for the family at lanier.care.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Elva Lorea Kyle Wilkes, please visit our floral store.
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