Mary L. Drew

Mary L. Drew passed away peacefully in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania on June 12, 2025.

Mary was born to the late Herschel and Mary E. (Buswell) Wilkinson on December 29, 1932 in West Frankfort, Illinois and was the youngest daughter of twelve children. Being a part of a large family brought many blessings and memories over the years.

Mary graduated from West Frankfort Community High School with the Class of 1950. She was active in several school organizations and was a faithful four year member of the W.F. Red Peppers, serving as its president her senior year.

She was married on September 11, 1953 to Raymond A. Drew of Benton, Illinois at the Northern Baptist Church known as the “Light on the Hill” in West Frankfort. They were the parents of two sons, Thomas Ray Drew and Tim Edward Drew.

After several years of employment in West Frankfort after graduation, mainly the C.I.P.S. Co., she began her Federal Civil Service Career with her husband in 1972, at the General Services Administration in Washington, D.C., later with the Fish and Wildlife Service in Golden, Colorado and eventually retiring in 1992 from the Department of the Army at New Cumberland, Pennsylvania as a contract specialist.

She was a quilter in her younger years, loved playing bridge, camping with her husband, and an avid fan of the New York Yankees. Most importantly was her faithful and active 50 year membership of the Reformed Baptist Church in Lewisburg where she loved and claimed the members and friends as her “second family” away from her native Illinois home church.

Surviving Mary are her grandson Justin Drew (wife Chelsea) and their children Summer and Emma all of Milton, Pennsylvania; granddaughter Angela Hoobler (husband Nolan) and their children Virginia, Jane, and Penny all of Stoneboro, Pennsylvania; granddaughter Megan Drew of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania; and daughter-in-law Bonnie Pannebaker of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.

Also surviving is her brother Warren (Bobby) Wilkinson of West Frankfort, Illinois; sister-in law Sharron Wilkinson of Genoa, Illinois; sister-in-law Helen (Drew) Grounds (husband Frank) of Benton, Illinois and numerous nieces and nephews who were dearly loved and many special friends that were made throughout Mary’s lifetime.

Mary was preceded in death by parents Herschel and Mary Wilkinson and in-laws George and Mary Drew. It was a very sad day when she lost her loving husband in 1999 to heart failure, her youngest son Tim Drew in 2003 to a long battle with melanoma cancer at the young age of 43, and the recent passing of her eldest son Tom Drew in January of 2025. Also preceding her in death were seven brothers namely: Herschel, Charles (Bud), William (Bill), John, Kenneth, Ralph Thomas, Joseph and three sisters Kathryn Kneemyer, Virginia Otterson, and Helen Redden.

Visitation and memorial services will be held at Morton-Johnston Funeral Home in Benton, Illinois on Saturday, June 28th, 2025 at 10:00am. Mary will be buried alongside her husband, Ramond, at the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton, Illinois.

A celebration of life will take place at a later date in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.

For those who prefer, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society or the general fund of the Reformed Baptist Church. Envelopes will be available at the Funeral Home.