Loretta Tobitt Wilkinson

Mrs. Loretta Tobitt Wilkinson of Paris, Tennessee went to be with her Lord on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. She was born the first of five children to the late Gardner Clifford Tobitt and Zula Mae Tobitt in Blakely, Georgia on Monday, May 17, 1926.

Loretta was preceded in death by her husband Samuel Aaron Wilkinson, sons Michael and James, grandson George Samuel, sisters June Tyler of Tullahoma and Ginger Jackson of Normandy, and brothers Wayne and Johnny Tobitt of Tullahoma.

She is survived and sorely missed by son Stephen and his wife Natalie of Kennewick WA, daughter Linda Miller and her husband Dale of Pass Christian MS, son John and his wife Sonya of Westport TN, grandchildren Erin, Stuart and Max, and great grandson Caden.

Loretta grew up during the Great Depression, her family moving to rural Alabama before settling in Tullahoma, Tennessee. Her childhood stories are set in a daily struggle to make ends meet in the hardest of times but told as a happy young girl supported by a loving extended family. From that upbringing came a strong Christian faith and a lifelong appreciation for hard work and learning, and for recognizing and being thankful for what you have.

After high school she attended Draughon's Business College and later met and married a young soldier, Sam Wilkinson. That began a life of travel, challenge and adventure across this country, Europe and the Middle East. Whether navigating Paris, France with two young children on foot and by train, bus, subway and French/English dictionary, at a time before the French spoke English, or entertaining with the wives of ambassadors and diplomats in Beirut, Lebanon, she accepted the immersion in everything new as opportunities to learn and to teach her children.

Loretta did teaching naturally and well, as much by example and involvement as instruction. A good cook and superb baker, she welcomed the children's "help" and would give them non-critical tasks that might require arithmetic, reading and following instructions. She certainly appears to have infected all of them with a love for cooking and good food. Loretta developed a love of nature from an early age and regretted that so many people show little appreciation for the beauty of God's creation. She encouraged that interest in her children and was tolerant of the unintended consequences. Her bathtub once accommodated a pair of young alligators while their outdoor home was under construction. And in summertime the refrigerator stocked wasp nests gathered from the barns, plump larvae in suspended animation waiting fishhooks and eager panfish. Perhaps her most important influence, though, was simply in how she lived her life. Imperfect as we all are, she attempted daily to follow in the teachings of Christ. A beautiful and loving example who might explain when necessary but didn't "preach" or scold.

After Sam retired from the Army, he and Loretta fulfilled a dream buying a farm at the head of Hollis Creek in Woodbury, Tennessee. There they joined the First Baptist Church of Woodbury. Loretta loved Moon Hollow as she called it and continued living there alone for eleven years following Sam's death. When an aging back no longer afforded her that freedom, she left her home of 50 years and moved into assisted living in Paris, TN.

Memorial graveside services will be 2:00 P.M. Sunday, September 15, 2024 at Riverside Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her name to the First Baptist Church of Woodbury or to the Special Operations Warriors Foundation (www.charitynavigator.org/ein/521183585) are appreciated.