Rita Ann Wilkins

Rita Ann Elizabeth Wilkins (Medcalf) 79, entered eternity surrounded by her loving family at her home in Saint Marys, Kansas on May 9, 2025. She was born in Beech Grove, Indiana and was the second daughter of James E. and Florence E. Medcalf (Adams). Her family lived in a rural community in southern Indiana where she attended a one room schoolhouse for the first few years of her life before moving to Indianapolis in the 1950’s. She attended St. Mark Elementary School and Our Lady of Grace Academy for Girls, graduating in 1965. Rita was an experienced and highly sought legal secretary for more than 40 years, retiring from Taft Law of Indianapolis in 2016. She was married to Patrick Michael Wilkins on June 10, 1978 at St. Joseph’s Chapel in Greenwood, Indiana. She is survived by her husband, Patrick, daughter Julia-Lee Burroughs (Doug) and grandson, Spencer K. Burroughs who reside in Westfield, Indiana. Mrs. Wilkins had three sisters Kathy Butcher (Max), Jean Marie Manson (dec) (Paul), Mary Ann Moats (Ken, dec) along with three brothers, Daniel Medcalf (Michelle), Christopher Medcalf (Jackie), Joseph Medcalf.

From an early age, Rita possessed a very acute sense of color as an artist. She was accomplished in oil, water color as well as pencil sketching portraits, still life, and landscape. As a young woman, she had a flair for interior decorating and enjoyed updating and redesigning her own home as well as assisting friends and family. She also enjoyed designing and making her own clothes and was a very creative scrapbooker. Rita loved to travel, having been to Rome and Florence, which cultivated her love of art at an early age and later she visited Australia and several Caribbean Islands with her husband. The Wilkins’ moved to Saint Marys from the Indianapolis area in 2019 to be closer to their family and to be members of the Immaculata Church.

Funeral arrangements are by Piper Funeral Home, St. Marys. Visitation is Thursday, May 15 from 11 AM - 2 PM at her home, 28258 Gailand Rd., St. Marys, followed by Rosary in the Immaculata at 5:20 PM. Sung Requiem Mass is in the Immaculata on Friday, May 16 at 11:00 AM, followed by interment in Our Lady of Peace Cemetery, St. Marys. A luncheon will follow the burial in the Immaculata’s St. Joseph’s Hall and all are welcome.

Contributions in Rita’s memory are being collected for Masses to be offered for the intentions of her soul and can be left in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple St., St. Marys, KS 66536.