Opal Wilkerson

Opal Pauline Wilkerson, 86, of Casa Grande died at home on Dec. 30, 2014.

Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. today at J. Warren Funeral Services, Mountain View Chapel. The funeral will follow at 11, with Pastor Dave Eleiott officiating. Burial will be in Heritage Valley Memorial Park in Coolidge.

Mrs. Wilkerson was born on Nov. 7, 1928, in Weston, Missouri, and was a daughter of Benjamin Griffith and Mary Combs. She lived her early years on a ranch near Gillette, Wyoming, and married John Wilkerson on May 17, 1944, in West Plains, Missouri. She lived and worked on a farm near Overbrook, Kansas, with her husband and family for more than 20 years.

She moved to Casa Grande in 1977 and was the custodian at Christian Church of Casa Grande for more than 20 years. She loved her family and riding her horse, Choctaw, going on many trail rides with her son Bob.

Survivors include two sons, Bob Wilkerson of Casa Grande and Roger Wilkerson of Reno, Nevada; three daughters, Linda Wilkerson, Judy Lee and Deanna Stuckey, all of Casa Grande; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband; a son, Jimmy Wilkerson; a brother, Fred Madden; and a sister, Georgia Crites.