Marilyn H. (Hopkins) Wilkerson

Marilyn Wilkerson, 80, a loving wife and mother, passed away on Saturday, February 16, 2019. Marilyn was born in Oklahoma City, OK, on March 30, 1938, the youngest of three children of F. Richard and Veva Hopkins. Having lived in several Oklahoma towns, her family settled in Chandler, OK, where she graduated from Chandler High School as class salutatorian. After earning an associate’s degree from William Woods College (MO), she attended the University of Oklahoma where she met Charles Wilkerson whom she married on November 28, 1959. Over the next 25 years, they lived in Wichita, KS, Houston, TX, Richardson, TX, and Somers, NY, as Charles took new jobs with Boeing and IBM. Along the way, she raised three children, Bill, Scott, and Susan. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Texas at Dallas. She was an active volunteer throughout her life including: PTO, Cub Scouts, Indian Princesses, the Junior League, the Placitas Artist Series, and churches in all the places that she lived. After the death of Charles in December, 1984, she met Douglas Chapman whom she married on June 26, 1988. As her children grew up, she entered the workforce and worked at the Somers, NY, School District, Mt. Kisco Chevrolet, and IBM Headquarters.  In 1994, Doug and Marilyn moved to Placitas, NM, to take advantage of the wonderful New Mexico lifestyle and be closer to her brother, Richard and his wife Lucy.  In Placitas, Marilyn worked for Las Puertas Presbyterian Church and retired from La Puerta Realtors. Marilyn and Doug quickly acclimated into the Placitas community and became active residents.

Marilyn was known for her loving and caring nature, ability to make friends, friendly smile, and playing piano at church. Marilyn treated each move as a new adventure. She enjoyed playing bridge, knitting and sewing, and flower and vegetable gardens. She is survived by her husband, Douglas Chapman; her children, Bill (Jennifer), Scott (Sheila), Susan (Todd); her brother, Richard (Lucy); grandchildren, Emily and Noah, Erin, Ethan, and Grace; step-children, Kenny (Nancy) and Cynthia Chapman; and Kenny's children, Hunter, Riley, Cole, and Mackenzie, as well as many nieces and nephews and their children.  Marilyn was preceded in death by her first husband, Charles; her parents, F. Richard and Veva Hopkins; and brother Donald (Marie) Hopkins.

Memorial contributions may be made to LPPC; P.O. Box 768; Placitas, NM 87043 or The Alzheimer's Association; 9500 Montgomery Blvd.NE; Suite 121; Albuquerque, NM 87111.