Dolores J. (Brown) Wilhelm, 88, of Purchase Line, PA, and formerly of Poland, OH, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at her home with her loving children by her side.
The daughter of the late Clair and Mary Louise (Houck) Brown, she was born on June 18, 1935 in Grant Twp., Indiana Co., PA.
Dolores was a 1953 graduate of Green Township High School. She was a member of the East Mahoning Baptist Church in Purchase Line, PA and enjoyed attending Gospel sings.
On June 30, 1956, she married Richard “Dick” E. Wilhelm and they shared over sixty-three years of marriage before his death on January 8, 2020.
Dolores was a talented homemaker. Her husband’s career led them to Ohio, where in addition to raising her own two children, Dolores effectively helped to raise and positively influence many of the children in their Poland, OH neighborhood.
In 2000 Dolores and Dick moved back to Pennsylvania to live on their family farm in Green Township. They would actively travel to homes of family and friends to share time visiting and enjoying the simple gift of spending time with one another. A devoted grandmother, she thoroughly loved spending time with her grandchildren and their families.
Dolores was an accomplished seamstress, who sewed clothing for herself and her daughter, as well as designing and sewing Barbie doll apparel.
She enjoyed gardening, canning and baking, as well as cooking for the farm help.
Surviving are her son, Rich Wilhelm of Purchase Line, PA; her daughter, Debbie Jones and husband Howard of Palmetto, FL; her two grandsons: Kyle Wilhelm and wife Shirl and their children: Brittany; Haleigh and Alton and David Wilhelm and wife Dana and their children: Eli, Oakley and Gracie, as well as four additional grandsons; twelve great grandchildren and eight great great grandchildren.
Also surviving are her four sisters-in-law: Janet Brown; Linda Kirkland; Karen Matty and husband, Denny and Marsha Wilhelm and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Dick and her brother, Don Brown.
Son, Rich and daughter, Debbie invite loved ones to celebrate Dolores’s life with them at the Rairigh Funeral Home, Ltd. in Hillsdale, PA for viewing on Friday, October 13, 2023 from 6-8:00 p.m. and again on Saturday, October 14, 2023 from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. An 11:30 a.m. funeral service will immediately follow the Saturday morning visitation at the funeral home. Pastor Scott Sauers will officiate. Interment will take place at East Mahoning Cemetery in Purchase Line, PA.
Visit www.rairighfh.com to sign Dolores’s guest book and share a condolence message.
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