Caroline Bassett Wilkinson

Caroline Bassett Wilkinson passed away peacefully at the Christian Health Care Center in Lynden, WA, on September 28, 2023, at the age of 87.
She was born Caroline McKee Bassett on April 29, 1936, in Decatur, IL, to Fraser and Fanny (Powers) Bassett. Caroline grew up in Decatur and attended Mary W. French grade school where she made many life-long friends. In 1950, she (reluctantly) left her Decatur friends and went to Dana Hall School in Wellesley, MA for four years, where she made more lifelong friends. Following graduation she enrolled in Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, where she began as an art major and graduated with an English degree.
After college Caroline had a fabulous time touring various countries in Europe with friends and soon after she met her future husband, Dr. Scott Jackson Wilkinson, at a party at her parents' house. They married in December 1959, and moved to Baltimore, MD, where twin daughters Caroline and Elizabeth were born in September 1960. Scott continued his internships and residency in pediatrics at Baltimore City Hospital, and subsequently the family moved to Chicago so he could complete his residency. Upon his graduation, the family moved to Helena, MT, and then to Gallipolis, OH, where son Fraser Scott was born in November 1964.
In 1969, the family made its final move, to Oxford, OH. There Scott opened his own pediatrics practice, which grew and thrived thanks in no small part to Caroline and her role as Scott's "right-hand woman." Caroline worked for years at the office, wearing hats as receptionist, accountant, and personal collection agency. She was loved there and is still fondly remembered by patients and their parents for her calm, ever pleasant, selfless, and kind ways.
At home she was a gourmet cook and homemaker for her family. Caroline loved gardening, reading, visiting art museums, listening to music, antiquing with Scott, observing wildlife (especially birding), visiting with friends, and doting on her pet kitties, which provided extra comfort after Scott passed away in 2015.
For many years she volunteered to review and provide recommendations on nursing students' scholarship applications. She was a dedicated Cincinnati sports fan, gladly suffering for decades along with her Reds and Bengals. She loved to travel, including a memorable family trip to Mexico in 1974, and many side trips to neighboring Midwest states. In 2007, she went to Paris with her daughters where they enjoyed a splendid 7-day art and architecture tour.
Family was everything to Caroline. She visited her children on the west coast as often as possible and made concerted efforts to attend her great niece's and great nephew's out-of-state weddings.
With her life-long friends from Decatur, she treasured many fun reunions with "the gang" over the years. She loved her large park-like yard in Oxford where she insisted on feeding the many visiting wildlife species including birds, deer, squirrels (including a favorite all-white one!), skunks, opossums, chipmunks, rabbits, and even a fox.
She found much pleasure in sending beautiful greeting cards for all occasions to family and friends, and we will miss receiving those and her sweet messages. She was sentimental and saved just about every card and letter she ever received! Caroline loved reminiscing about her life growing up with her beloved parents and grandparents in Decatur. We always enjoyed hearing those stories as much as she enjoyed telling them, and they will be forever missed.
Declining health made it necessary for Caroline to move to a retirement facility in Bellingham, WA, in June 2022, so that she could be closer to son Scott and his family. She enjoyed her apartment there until further health issues required the move to Lynden in August 2023. Caroline was a wonderful, kind, gentle, supportive, and patient mother, and a caring, considerate, and warm-hearted friend to many. She will be missed beyond measure.
She is survived by her daughter Caroline Wilkinson Prose and son-in-law Bart of Sacramento, CA; daughter Elizabeth Wilkinson Dobbs of Milwaukie, OR, and son Fraser Scott Wilkinson, daughter-in-law Hilary, and granddaughter Jayda of Bellingham, WA.
She was preceded in death by her husband, both parents, her older brother Edward Powers Bassett, and her son-in-law Sam Dobbs.
There will not be a memorial service. Memorials may be made to the Animal Adoption Foundation, 2480 Ross-Millville Road, Hamilton, OH 45013; The National Audubon Society; The Nature Conservancy; or a charity of one's choosing.
Condolences may be sent online to gilliesfuneralhome.com /obituaries/Caroline-Wilkinson. Arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
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