Ella Rita Wadkins

July 14, 1936 - December 18, 2019

Ella Rita Wadkins, 83, of Vandalia, IL passed away at 8:05 PM, Wednesday, December 18, 2019 at Willowbrook Memory Care in Vandalia. A Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, December 21, 2019 at Northside Christian Church, Vandalia with Marlin Filer officiating. Interment will follow in Vernon/Tillman Cemetery, Vernon. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service from 1:00-2:00 PM, Saturday, at the church. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Alzheimer’s Association. Mrs. Ella Rita Wadkins was born on July 14, 1936 in Carlinville, IL, the daughter of Soter Gervious and Anna Beatrice (Layton) Manning. She married James Merl Wadkins on February 21, 1955; he preceded her in death in 2007. Ella was an executive secretary for the Unites States Air Force. She was a member of Northside Christian Church, Vandalia and a former member of the Patoka American Legion Auxiliary Post #543. She is survived by her daughter, Ann “Pud” and husband Geoff Scheerer of Hoffman Estates; daughter, Pam and husband Kevin Gilmore of Taylorville; son, Jim Wadkins of Vandalia; daughter, Tammy and husband Marlin Filer of Vandalia; 6 grandchildren; and 6 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and 8 brothers and sisters.