Rita Lockwood Peters Wilkinson

Rita Lockwood Peters Wilkinson, age 88, was born August 31, 1931, in Ferrum, Virginia, and passed peacefully away on December 26, 2019, in Roanoke, Virginia.

She worked for Dr Pepper in Roanoke, Virginia, for 34 years. She accepted a “temp” job at Kroger in Roanoke and retired from this second career in 2012.

Rita loved learning and was a lifelong student – earning her last degree with her grandchildren in the audience at the commencement ceremony cheering, “Way to go, MeMaw” as she walked across the stage to receive her diploma.

She loved the beach; she loved her coffee; she loved her children and she adored her grandchildren!

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry Morton Peters and Roosevelt Gusler Peters; two brothers, Wallace Neil Peters and Harry Delano Peters; three sisters, Jean Peters Morgan, Wanda Ellis Peters and Majella Peters; and her husband, James Howard Wilkinson. She is survived by a sister, Yvonne Peters Goldsmith (and her husband, Charles); a brother-in-law, James Howard Morgan; a sister-in-law, Naomi Wilkinson Murray; her son, James William Wilkinson; her daughter, Sue Lockwood Wilkinson Ridder (and her husband, Kevin); three grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Graveside service will be held at the Franklin Memorial Park Cemetery, 21440 Virgil H. Goode Hwy, Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151, on Monday, December 30, at 2:00 pm.