Mrs. Evelyn June (Wikstrom) Mears Benthall, 93, a resident of Williamsburg, and a longtime resident of Parksley, passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by her loving family, on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. Born Sept. 5, 1931, in Hampton, she was the daughter of the late Karl Erik Wikstrom and the late Elfrieda Marie Sophia (Schneider) Wikstrom.
She was a graduate of Parksley High School, the best mother to her children, a wonderful cook, and a devout Christian.
Evelyn is survived by her children, Richard Steven Mears Jr. and wife, Linda, of Conway, S.C., Mark Allen Mears Sr. and wife, Cindy, of Newport News, Thomas Wayne Mears Sr. and wife, Dorothy, of Calabash, S.C., Margery Mears Hinman and husband, Warren, of Williamsburg, and Michael Benthall Mears and his wife, Sara, of Bloxom; a step-daughter, Jane Travis, of Dover, Del.; a sister, Barbara Cumming, of Newport News; 16 grandchildren, Melanie, Richard III, Kristy, Mark Jr., Jennifer, Bobby, Tom Jr., Christina, Christopher, Kathi, Kelli, Joni, Joshua, John, Julia, and Jackson; and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Walter R. Wikstrom, Donald E. Wikstrom, and Richard M. Wikstrom; her first husband, Richard S. Mears Sr.; her second husband; Henen C. Benthall; and a granddaughter, Tiffany Danielle Mears.
A graveside service will be conducted Friday, Jan. 17, at 2 p.m., at Liberty Cemetery in Parksley, with the Rev. Robert Coniglio officiating. Family will receive friends at Williams-Parksley Funeral Home one hour prior to the service.
Memory tributes may be shared with the family at
www.williamsfuneralhomes.com
Arrangements are by the Williams-Parksley Funeral Home.
