Julia Kitchens Wilke

Julia Kitchens Wilke, 83, of Winfield, passed away Feb. 25, 2016, in Houston, Texas. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church of Winfield, Kansas. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Miles Funeral Service, Winfield. The family will be present from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Julia was born on July 28, 1932, in Texarkana, Texas, the daughter of Chester Kitchens, M.D., and wife Edith. Julia married Richard B. Wilke on June 20, 1953, in Texarkana, Ark. She joined her husband, a United Methodist pastor, and in his ministry in Scandia, Salina, Winfield, and Wichita, Kan. In 1984, they moved to Little Rock, Ark., where Richard Wilke served as Bishop of the United Methodist Church for 12 years. Survivors include her husband; son, Steve (Beth) Wilke, Winfield; son Paul (Janelle) Wilke, Derby, Kansas; daughter Susan (Rob) Fuquay, Indianapolis, Ind.; daughter Sarah (Nancy Kruh) Wilke, Nashville, Tenn.; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Memorial gifts may be made to the Richard and Julia Wilke Institute for Discipleship at Southwestern College, 100 College Ave., Winfield, Kan. 67156.