Barbara L. Wilkinson

11/2/38 – 10/3/24

“It’s all about making the journey; you only get once and I’m ready to go. Let’s get this show on the road.” ~ Bobbi Wilkinson 10/2/24

Barbara “Bobbi” Wilkinson, 85, of Imperial, Missouri, peacefully passed away after a brief battle with cancer on October 3, 2024. Bobbi shared a special bond and birthday with her loving son, Ron Wilkinson, and was the first of 11 children born to Leslie P. Landry and Anna Lee Esteve Landry, of White Castle, Louisiana. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Roger D. Wilkinson, daughter, Shana Wilkinson Andren, and brothers, Stevie Landry, Gordon “Pat” Landry and Jeffrey Landry. Left to cherish beautiful memories of a life well-lived are siblings, Elvena “Butsy” (Philip) Suarez, Leslie Jeanne Hebert, Barry (Diana) Landry, Michael (Patricia) Landry, Kristine (Peter) McCarthy, Bonnie Eskine, and Lynn “Tippy” (Dennie) Landry, and sisters-in-law, Marjorie Landry and Sarah Landry, along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.

One of Bobbi’s most admired attributes was her ability to just go for it. She grew up in a small Louisiana farming community “where fireflies used to glow and with fields of sugar cane all in a row.” Upon graduating from White Castle High School in 1956, and with no intention of becoming a farmer’s wife, Bobbi set her sights on doing something “in the other world.” She moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, attended secretarial school and began working in the clerical field. Bobbi found it liberating for a woman to have a job. In 1959, she spontaneously moved to California, quickly landed a job at Packard-Bell and met Roger, her husband of 60 years. The newlyweds relocated to Orlando, Florida for Roger’s employment and Bobbi began working in the Engineering Department of Martin-Marietta. They headed back to California when Roger accepted a job offer from McDonnell Douglas, and Bobbi resumed her employment with Packard-Bell. The last move would be to St. Louis, Missouri, a place to call home and raise a family. In 1983, their family-owned business, Abbey Glass, was established. Bobbi strived to be a successful female business owner in a male dominated field. The company flourished under Bobbi’s management and continues to be prosperous to this day.

Bobbi easily made friends wherever she went (“Just listen to people, they have so much to say.”) and will be remembered as generous, funny, creative, inspiring, brilliant and the family matriarch. She loved her family, nature, flowers and white wine over ice at the end of the day. Her talents were multifaceted, and she enjoyed gardening, cooking, reading historical novels about strong women, traveling, listening to Neil Diamond, a little gambling and creating stained-glass designs for family and friends. Bobbi could do anything she set her mind to and was still working on a way to change water into Pinot Grigio.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her honor to the Volunteers of de Greeff Hospice House, 10024 Kennerly Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63128 or by extending an act of kindness to someone in need.