Janice Wilkins

Janice Wilkins

May 29, 1940 - February 4, 2026

Santa Maria - Janice Margaret Ingham Wilkins, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully on February 4, 2026, at the age of 85. Born on May 29, 1940, in San Diego, California, she was the oldest of 6 siblings, and spent most of her early years in the Southern California area.

In 1962, Janice graduated from Whittier College with a degree in elementary education. Later that summer, she married Ronald Wilkins, whom she began dating during their time at Covina High School. In the early 1970s, they settled in the San Joaquin Valley, farming the land that had been originally settled by Janice's grandparents in 1922.

Janice worked in education for 28 years. She taught in both elementary and middle school classrooms, focusing on computer lab, language arts, and language development. She also worked as a site resource teacher in the Delano Unified Elementary School District, coordinating state and federal programs, before returning to the classroom to teach 6th grade. Janice retired from education in 2004.

In 2011, Janice and Ronald sold their farmland and relocated to Santa Maria, California, to be closer to their children and grandchildren. They became full time grandparents, devoting themselves to sports matches, 4-H events, musical productions, and awards ceremonies and graduations. They also enjoyed their many adventures, including trips across Ireland to trace family trees, the South West via train, and the Snake and Columbia rivers, following the path of Lewis and Clark.

An avid reader, Janice participated in several book groups and was never found far from her personal library, whether physical or digital. She was also an active member of P.E.O. Chapter QI in Santa Maria, helping to support the education of women through scholarships and grants.

Of all of the blessings in her life, her greatest was her family. Janice was able to spend her last hours with her grandchildren, whom she took much pride and joy in. Hannah, Bret, Rae, Joseph, Kathryn, Timothy, and Ethan feel similarly blessed to have had such amazing grandparents. Janice is also survived by her children Erik (Staci), Elaine (Vincent), Paul (Kathleen), and extended family, all of whom will carry her memory forward through the values she instilled and the love she gave. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald Ryman Wilkins, in 2020.

A private internment will be held in Delano, California. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, March 7th at 11:00 at Saint Andrew Methodist Church in Santa Maria, California.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the P.E.O Sisterhood Program for Continuing Education Fund which provides need-based grants to women whose education has been interrupted and who find it necessary to return to school to complete a degree or certification that will improve their marketable skills for employment to support themselves and/or their families.