Dr. Edward Joseph "Ned" Wikle

MADISON – Ned fought the good fight with supernatural faith, Courage and grace and was awarded his crown of glory on Thursday, March 17, 2016.
Ned was born on January 6, 1980, in Tupelo, Mississippi to Charles and Cathy Wikle. He accepted Christ at an early age and earnestly pursued a relationship with his Heavenly Father. He was an avid student of The Word and his greatest desire was to be a Godly husband and father to his children.
Ned attended Tupelo Christian Preparatory School, Tupelo Public Schools and graduated from the McCallie School, Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1998. He attended the University of Mississippi, graduating with a business degree in 2002. While at Ole Miss, Ned was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and Campus Crusade for Christ.
After a short banking career, Ned decided to follow in his father's footsteps in the practice of dentistry. He resumed his science courses at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, and was accepted into the University of Mississippi College of Dentistry, receiving his DMD with Cum Laude honors, in 2008. While in dental school, he joined the United States Navy and, upon his dental graduation, Ned completed his General Practice Residency at the U.S. Naval Medical Center in San Diego, California. He was then assigned to the Marine Corp/Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan, where he served three years. Ned then returned to the United States and completed a two-year residency in Endodontics.
Ned met the love of his life, Dana Melissa Mayo, while in Dental School and they married August 3, 2008. Their journey was a beautiful love story, filled with adventure, laughter, parenting and true joy. God blessed them with three amazing children. They shared more in their eight years of marriage than most people would experience in a lifetime. They were and will always be eternal soul mates.
Preceded in death by his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wikle and Mr. Erwin Joseph Messer, Ned is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Dana, and their three precious children: Rivers Abigayle (5), Edward Elijah (3) and Joseph Luke (2), along with his parents, Charles ""Buddy"" and Cathy Wikle and his siblings: Will (Ronnie), Emily (Sean) and John (Summer). He is also survived by his in-laws Ray and Gayle Mayo, his sister and brother-in-law Amy and Jason Martin; aunts, Carol Raeber (Steve), Chris Kazmier (Rick), Holly McAlexander (Monte), Carol Mabry (Jeff); uncle, Mike Messer (Terri) and a host of cousins, nieces nephews and wonderful friends.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 20, 2016, from 3-6 p.m. at the Celebration of Life Hall at Parkway Funeral Home, 1161 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland. A service celebrating his life will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 21, 2016, at Highlands Presbyterian Church, 1160 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to: Dave and Julie Ayers (missionaries)
www.globaloutreach.org/missionary-donation; or to Compassion International, www.compassion.com; or to the Sanctuary Hospice House.