Individual Details

Death

NEWPORT NEWS - Beverly Priddy Koch Wilkins traded the trials of this life for the joys of heaven on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012. Beverly was born July 5, 1925, in Newport News, Va., where she remained as a third-generation lifetime resident. She graduated from Newport News High School in 1943. It was there that she met her sweetheart and husband-to-be, Charles Buckley "Buck" Wilkins. The two were married in 1945. After a brief employment, as a draftsperson, with Newport News Shipbuilding & DryDock Co., Beverly dedicated herself to the job of being the most wonderful wife and mother that any family could ask for. She walked faithfully and lovingly with her husband through challenging health issues. She unforgettably enriched the lives of all three of her grandchildren by caring for them in their early years while their parents worked. Her lifelong love of gardening would often prompt her to rise early to complete the day's housework so she could spend the rest of her day outdoors, where her handiwork abounded in a yard full of colorful, beautifully kept beds of plants and flowers. Beverly was preceded in death by her dear parents, William R. Koch Jr. and Lucille "Tootsie" Priddy Koch; her beloved husband of 58 years, Buck; and by her cherished granddaughter, Jennifer Lynn, with whom God saw fit to reunite her on the anniversary of her birth date. Beverly is survived and dearly missed by her daughter and caregiver for the last nine years, Beverly Lynn Wilkins; son, Kevin Buckley Wilkins and his wife, Lisa Furr Wilkins; grandsons, Ryan Buckley Wilkins and Robbin Anderson Wilkins; and three great-grandchildren, Kimberly Ruth "Ruthie" Wilkins, Nathaniel Buckley Wilkins, and Joshua Riley Pearson. She is also survived by much loved first cousins, Ann Lee Malone Taylor, Jack Priddy Malone, Robert Bernard Malone, and Kenneth Gene Stultz; second cousins, Lucy Ann Taylor Smith, Laurie May Taylor Burmeister, Kenneth Gene Stultz Jr., Gary Doyle Stultz, Barbara Lee Priddy Forster, Thomas D. Priddy, and David G. Priddy; and by her nieces via marriage, Myra Wilkins Golden, Peggy Wilkins Tienken, Suzie Wilkins Roberts, Bobbie Wilkins Sweat, and Patty Wilkins Arnold. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5, 2012, at Peninsula Memorial Park, officiated by Pastor Carl E. Mericle. The family requests that gifts, in lieu of flowers, take the form of a donation to the Southeastern Virginia Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association , 739 Thimble Shoals Blvd., Suite 1006, Newport News, Va.; www.alz.org/seva View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.
Published in Daily Press from November 3 to November 4, 2012