Obituary for Barbara June Wilke
Barbara June Wilke, 88, of Chesapeake, Va., formerly of Newville, Pa., died January 20, 2023. She and her twin sister were born in 1934 in Richmond, Va., to the late Joseph C. and Frances E. Stephan Wilke. She also was preceded in death by a sister, Gertrude W. Bolton; two brothers, Joseph “Bud" (tail gunner, killed in action, WWII) and Richard "Dick" Wilke; and nephew Richard “Skip” Powell. She is survived by her identical twin sister, Betty W. Powell.
Barbara never married. Her extended surviving family include four nieces and four nephews. Nieces are Frances "Cookie" B. Woolard, Catherine W. Bairhalter, Janice W. Diamond, and Betsy P. Gentry. Nephews are Bruce Bolton, Ronnie Bolton, Richard “Rick" Wilke, and Jeffrey Powell. She also had numerous great-nieces and -nephews and great-great-nieces and -nephews.
Barbara was a 1952 graduate of Hermitage High School in Henrico, Va. She worked as an Engineering Design Draftsman for the Virginia Department of Highways from 1952 to 1960. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Richmond in 1963, a Master of Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1966, and a Doctor of Education from West Virginia University in 1982.
Barbara was inducted into the Metro Richmond Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame for her participation in the Byrd Park Women’s Softball Dixie League from 1951 to 1960. She played third base and was the long-ball hitter for the league’s Pollyannas team.
Barbara taught Health and Physical Education; and was girls’ basketball coach at J.R. Tucker High School in Henrico from 1963 to 1965. She was an instructor of Physical Education and golf coach at Hollins College in Roanoke, Va., from 1966 to 1968. From 1968 to 1991, Barbara served on the faculty of East Stroudsburg University (ESU) in Pennsylvania. During her tenure there, she was appointed chair of the Basic Physical Education Department in 1972 and developed a curriculum of Lifetime Sports and Fitness Courses. She taught a great variety of these activities herself as professor of Physical Education, and served as supervisor of many off-campus sports activities at local community venues. She was ESU’s women's tennis coach from 1968 to 1985. In 1974-75, she received an award as Most Outstanding Educator. She was promoted to Full Professor in 1982 and retired as Faculty Emeritus in 1991. After her retirement, she volunteered in local elementary schools, tutoring students in reading, math, language, and physical skills.
She was an avid reader, golfer, nature hiker, biker, and cross-country skier. "Teach", "Coach", “Doc", “Bobbie", "Barb”, "BJ" is best remembered for her love of teaching, coaching, tutoring; her love of competition in many sports and games; her hobby of woodworking; her love of travel and adventure; and her love of animals and interests in nature.
In 2006, Dr. Wilke moved to a retirement community in Newville, Pa. As her health continued to decline, she moved to an assisted living facility in Virginia to be closer to some of her beloved family.
The family has scheduled a graveside memorial service for Aunt Barbara on Friday, April 21, 2023 at 11 a.m. in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Richmond, Va.
Barbara never married. Her extended surviving family include four nieces and four nephews. Nieces are Frances "Cookie" B. Woolard, Catherine W. Bairhalter, Janice W. Diamond, and Betsy P. Gentry. Nephews are Bruce Bolton, Ronnie Bolton, Richard “Rick" Wilke, and Jeffrey Powell. She also had numerous great-nieces and -nephews and great-great-nieces and -nephews.
Barbara was a 1952 graduate of Hermitage High School in Henrico, Va. She worked as an Engineering Design Draftsman for the Virginia Department of Highways from 1952 to 1960. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Richmond in 1963, a Master of Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1966, and a Doctor of Education from West Virginia University in 1982.
Barbara was inducted into the Metro Richmond Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame for her participation in the Byrd Park Women’s Softball Dixie League from 1951 to 1960. She played third base and was the long-ball hitter for the league’s Pollyannas team.
Barbara taught Health and Physical Education; and was girls’ basketball coach at J.R. Tucker High School in Henrico from 1963 to 1965. She was an instructor of Physical Education and golf coach at Hollins College in Roanoke, Va., from 1966 to 1968. From 1968 to 1991, Barbara served on the faculty of East Stroudsburg University (ESU) in Pennsylvania. During her tenure there, she was appointed chair of the Basic Physical Education Department in 1972 and developed a curriculum of Lifetime Sports and Fitness Courses. She taught a great variety of these activities herself as professor of Physical Education, and served as supervisor of many off-campus sports activities at local community venues. She was ESU’s women's tennis coach from 1968 to 1985. In 1974-75, she received an award as Most Outstanding Educator. She was promoted to Full Professor in 1982 and retired as Faculty Emeritus in 1991. After her retirement, she volunteered in local elementary schools, tutoring students in reading, math, language, and physical skills.
She was an avid reader, golfer, nature hiker, biker, and cross-country skier. "Teach", "Coach", “Doc", “Bobbie", "Barb”, "BJ" is best remembered for her love of teaching, coaching, tutoring; her love of competition in many sports and games; her hobby of woodworking; her love of travel and adventure; and her love of animals and interests in nature.
In 2006, Dr. Wilke moved to a retirement community in Newville, Pa. As her health continued to decline, she moved to an assisted living facility in Virginia to be closer to some of her beloved family.
The family has scheduled a graveside memorial service for Aunt Barbara on Friday, April 21, 2023 at 11 a.m. in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Richmond, Va.