Theodora (Teddy) L. Wilkins

Theodora (Teddy) L. Wilkins, bom Oct. 18, 1922, in Paulding, Ohio, to Ernest W. Neds and Evelyn G. (Noffsinger) Neds, departed this world to reside in God’s glory with her beloved husband, Scott B. Wilkins, on Feb. 24, 2009.

Theodora was a graduate of Paulding High School in 1940 and then attended Green State University in Green, Ohio, where she received her degree in advanced mathematics and science. Because of her achievements in college she was chosen as one of only 100 women to study aeronautical engineering at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, where she received her degree in aeronautical engineering. Theodora was then employed in 1943 by the Curtiss Wright Corporation in Columbus, Ohio, where she was involved in the design, weight distribution and bolt/rivet configuration of the “Navy Helldiver” aircraft, which was instrumental in the victory over the Japanese in the battle of Midway and utilized in World War II through 1945 and after the war.

In 1949, Theodora met the love of her life, Scott B. Wilkins, and married on July 1, 1949, in Paulding, Ohio. Thereafter they moved to Schenectady, N.Y., where she was employed with General Electric Gas Turbines as an electrical engineer. In 1950, Scott and Theodora moved to Moses Lake and purchased a farm in the Hiawatha Valley near Moses Lake. Theodora was employed from 1951 to 1962 for the U.S. Air Force at Larson Air Force base in Moses Lake as an aeronautical engineer. Thereafter, she and Scott began farming full time. In the fall of 1980, Scott and Theodora moved on to Phoenix, Ariz., where she was employed by John Moody as a civil engineer for the Bureau of Reclamation until her retirement in 1989. Thereafter she moved to Wenatchee in 1997, where she resided until her passing. Scott and Theodora enjoyed their retirement and met many wonderful close friends throughout their life.

In 2004, Theodora was preceded in death by her husband Scott B. Wilkins. They had been married for 55-plus years. Theodora was preceded in death by her sisters Thelma Irwin Neds and Catherine Neds.

Theodora is survived by her sister Nancy Eason and husband Dairus Eason of Loomis, Calif., her son Paul W. Wilkins and daughter-in-law Julie Wilkins of Moses Lake, her grandchildren Lindsey Toya, whose husband is Marty Toya, and Jesse Wilkins and her great-grandchildren, Ashtyn and Avery Toya.

Services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. in the Evergreen Memorial Park & Mausoleum, 1301 10th N.E., East Wenatchee. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be sent to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Spokane, 1015 West Fifth Ave., Spokane, WA 99204, in remembrance of Theodora Wilkins.