WILKES, Dortha Mae (Roberts)- b. May 6, 1920 - d. March 6, 1951

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 Howard Courant-Citizen
March 15, 1951


Dortha Mae Roberts Wilkes, daughter of Jess L. and Marie Roberts, ws born May 6, 1920 at Kansas City, Missouri.  She spent her girlhood in Kansas City and also in this community.  She was graduated from the Howard High School in 1936, graduating in three years.  She was also a member of the Howard Chapter of the National Honor Society of Secondary Schools.

On May 30, 1941, she was married to Mason Wilkes at Red Wing, Minnesota, and to this home was born two daughters, Roberta Lee and Claudia Marie.

As a child, Dortha Mae became interested in the stage and later chose this as a career.  She made public appearances at an early age and later studied in Kansas City, Missouri. She conducted studios in Howard, Sedan, and Emporia.

In 1936 and 1937 she attended the Kansas City University, but left to join a professional theatrical troupe.  She traveled widely in theatrical work until the beginning of her last illness in the summer of 1950.

She passed away March 6, 1951, at the home of her parents in this city.

She leaves to mourn her passing at the early age of 30, her husband, her two daughters, her parents, her relatives and many friends and admirers of this community and other communities which her travels have taken her.

Funeral services were held at the Moon Chapel in Howard, Thursday, March 8th, at 2:00 p.m., conducted by Rev. P.L. Mitchell, pastor of the local Methodist Church.  A male quartet composed of Ben Eby, Charles Miller, Jess Barger and Fred Finley, accompanied by Mrs. Ray Perkins, furnished the music.  The casket bearers were Richard Reid, Neil Winn, Teddy Amberg, Frank Gibbon, Bill Redmond, and Cecil Hebb.  Interment was in  Grace Lawn Cemetery, Howard, Kansas.

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I remember Roberta and Claudia, even though they were older than I.  Both of them graduated from Howard High School.  They were raised by their grandparents.