Kay F. Wilke

After a valiant three and one half month struggle,  Kay Frances Wilke, known to her family and close friends as ‘Bird’ or ‘Birdie’, lost her battle with an aggressive pulmonary cancer.  She passed away peacefully, without pain, on the afternoon of November 25, 2025, in the Accent Care hospice facility at Christiana Care.  Her husband and her four children were at her bedside.

Kay was born in Franklin County, Virginia in 1943, as the second daughter of Hubert and Mary Prillaman.  She was schooled in Henry County, Virginia and after graduating from Bassett High School and attending the National Business College in Roanoke she accepted a secretarial position at DuPont’s Martinsville nylon plant.  There she met her future husband who was starting his career.

After their marriage in August of 1964, Kay and Roger started a trek to ten domestic and international locations including one in Iran and one in Switzerland.  She courageously adapted to each new home and culture while setting up a comfortable living environment and nurturing the development and education of her four children as they came along.  She was quick to make friends and become involved in community affairs at each new location.

Finally, in 1989, Kay was able to ‘retire’ to her final home in Wawaset Park in Wilmington.  There she set up a warm and welcoming home that is still the envy of her family and friends.  Known to many as a “second mom’, Kay genuinely cared for the people in her orbit.  She was always eager to listen and learn the finest details of their lives.  As a natural hostess, she tirelessly welcomed family and friends into her home, tending to their needs with generosity, grace and skill.  Her love of gardening further enhanced her impact on the world by producing one of the finest arrays of pots and plantings in the area.  It was selected at one time as a stop on the Wilmington Garden Club’s annual Garden Tour.

Kay is survived by her husband of 61 years, her sister Jeannie, and her four children.  They are Pamela Rogers (Scott) of Baltimore, Cara Kail (Michael) of Minneapolis, Andrew (Kelli) of Wilmington and Alexandra Wilke (Matthew Ramah) of Cape Charles.  Her 13 grandchildren are Sam, Maddie, Hank and Thomas Rogers; Lucy, Charlie, William and Christopher Kail; Carter, Brooks and Harry Wilke; and Walter and Winston Ramah.  Her grandchildren idolized her and will remember her always.

Kay was a member of the Board of Directors of the Delaware Guidance Services for many years.  She was a member of the Wilmington Country Club where she participated in golf and fitness activities and, more recently, in a Mahjong group.  With her selfless and caring approach to life she developed many lasting friendships at her club and in the community.

Services for Kay will be private and a remembrance at the Wilmington Country Club will be announced later.

Any donations should be directed to the school or charity of your choice that serves the development and education of children.