Jean Wilkinson Spain

Jean Mary Goda Wilkinson Spain of Conway passed away at home on Tuesday, May 5, at age 90. "Wilkie," as she was known by family and friends, was the co-founder of Wilkinson's Mall, and a founding member of Grace United Methodist Church in Conway. Jean was born February 2, 1925 in Evanston, Illinois. She attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville during World War II, where she met William J. "Bill" Wilkinson. They married in his hometown of Helena in 1946 and had four children. Jean was active in First Methodist Church and was a Welfare Department caseworker. The family left Helena in 1968 to start their own business, Wilkinson's Wholesale Shoe Company Inc., in Conway. After Bill's sudden death in 1974, Jean and son Mike, daughter Jenny, and son-in-law Steve McEntire kept the business going. In 1987 it became Wilkinson's Mall, now the largest shoe and boot store in Arkansas. Jean's character and business sense played a large part in the store's long-term success. In 1986 Jean married John H. Spain, a retired naval officer. "Wilkie" was an exemplary grandmother. When she wasn't attending ball games and birthdays, giving driving lessons, or hosting family events and weekly dinners, she was busy in her sewing room, garden, church, and shoe store. She was pre-deceased by husbands, Bill Wilkinson and John Spain, parents Herman and Mayme Berg Goda, brother Jack Goda, and sister-in-law Louise Wilkinson Cremeen. Jean is survived by four children: Leah Wilkinson, Little Rock; Mike Wilkinson (Susan) and Margie Wilkinson McEntire (Steve), all of Conway; and Jenny Wilkinson Honey (Jeff), of Greenbrier; 11 grandchildren: Natalie Wilkinson Rose (Reggie), Beth Wilkinson Reed (Neal), Valerie Sylar Johnson (Garth), and Megan Wilkinson James (Adam), all of Conway; Lindsay McEntire Dugger (Jon), Springdale; Billy McEntire (Jordan) and Corinne Power (Mark), both of Fayetteville; Julie Woodard Crossland (Cole) and John Woodard (Annelise), Jared and Emily Honey, all of Greenbrier; brother-in-law, Dr. Bill Cremeen and nephew, Bill Cremeen, both of Maumelle; niece, Leanne Cremeen Johnson (Kyle), Springdale; four grand-nieces and nephews; and 14 great-grandchildren. Funeral service will be held at Grace United Methodist Church in Conway on Friday at 1 p.m. with Rev. Mark McDonald officiating. Graveside service will follow at Crestlawn Memorial Park with Brother Gary Burdin officiating. You are invited to celebrate her life with us on Thursday from 6-8 p.m., at 177 Hwy. 365 S, Conway. For online guestbook, go to www.rollerfuneralhomes.com. Memorial donations may be made to Arkansas Hospice or the charity of your choice.