Obituary of Rita Devlin Wilkins

Rita D. Wilkins, 92, of Lake Placid, died December 19, 2015. She was born in Jay on December 22, 1922, the daughter of Mark A. and Grace (Bartlett) Devlin. She was a graduate of AuSable Forks High School and the Plattsburgh Business School. In 1945 she started working for Robert A. Wilkins at his real estate and insurance office in Lake Placid. There she met John "Jack" Wilkins and they were married on October 8, 1949. Jack and Rita had 41 years of a loving life together traveling, racing dog sled teams, and raising three children. After Jack's passing in 1990, Rita found love again and married Ralph Bozarth in 1998. Ralph and Rita lived life to the fullest during the four years they were married. They were always on the move going somewhere. Rita was a loving mom, grandmother, sister, aunt, and godmother. She was very active in the Catholic Church, a past member of the Garden Club and the Lake Placid Beatification Association. She had a witty sense of humor and ohh the stories she would tell. She also enjoyed gardening and a good Old Fashioned. She is survived by her three children John T. (Aimee) Wilkins of Celebration, FL and Lake Placid, NY, and Joan W. (Michael) Grady and Mark A. Wilkins, both of Lake Placid, NY. She is also survived by her five grandchildren Grace (Augusta, GA) and John Wilkins (Incline Village, NV), Colin and Ryan Grady (Lake Placid, NY) and Molly Wilkins (Latham, NY), her sister Kathleen (Jim) Crowley (Albany, NY) and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husbands John "Jack" Wilkins and Ralph Bozarth; her infant daughters Ann M. and Kerry T. Wilkins, her brothers Francis, Jack, Robert and Mark "Gene" Devlin and a sister Eileen Carron. The family will have a grave side service on Wednesday, December 23, 2015 at St. Agnes Cemetery at 3:00 p.m. Rev. John Yonkovig will officiate. In the spring of 2016 the family will hold a memorial service and reception celebrating Rita's life at a date and time to be announced. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests friends wishing to remember Rita make donations to the Lake Placid Horse Show Association or Catholic Charities. The M.B. Clark Funeral Home in Lake Placid, NY is in charge of arrangements. Relatives and friends are invited to share a memory, light a candle or upload a photo for the Wilkins family to cherish at www.mbclarkfuneralhome.com