Doris Wilkinson

Wilkinson, Doris
July 31, 2013. Doris Allen Wilkinson was born December 23, 1915 in Decatur Illinois. She was descended from Scottish immigrants and was a proud member of Clan Buchanan. Doris graduated from Washington University school of Nursing (in St. Louis, Mo.) in 1943 and worked during World War II at Los Alamos Manhattan Project Hospital in New Mexico. Married in 1944, she returned to St. Louis to start her family. Following her husband's death in 1958, she returned to her education and graduated from Barnes Hospital School of Anesthesia in 1960. She worked as a nurse anesthetist at Barnes Hospital, followed by employment at St. Louis County Hospital. Doris remarried in 1963. Widowed again in 1976, she moved to Phoenix in 1982, where she continued her career at St. Joseph's Hospital until her 1985 retirement. Active in retirement, she was an avid member of the Women's League of the Encanto Golf Course. When not on the golf course, she pursued an avocation as an acclaimed artist. She was a longtime member of the Arizona Artists guild and was represented by several galleries. She collected many awards and honors for her figurative work in pastel. In 2003 Blue Cross-Blue Shield awarded Doris its' "Ageless Hero" award for Creative Expression. Her unfailing enthusiasm for life's joy was an inspiration to her friends and family. Doris was preceded in death by husbands, Marc Potter and Jack Wilkinson as well as son William Allen Potter. She is survived by daughter Francey Potter of Phoenix, granddaughter Victoria Potter (Michael Schon), great-grandsons Dylan and Gabriel Schon of Washington DC, and nephew David Clark of Williamsburg, VA. Memorial services will be held Saturday, September 14, 12 o'clock noon at All Saints Episcopal Church, 6300 North Central Avenue, Phoenix. In lieu of flowers, it is suggested that donations be made in her honor to Arizona Friends of Talking Books, 1030 North 32nd. Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85008.