Obituary: Evelyn Mae Radke

Evelyn Mae Radke, 79, of Windermere, died Monday, Oct. 23, 2017, with her two daughters, Carol Ann Willard and Virginia Dawn Leon, at her side.

Evelyn was born Sept. 7, 1938, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, daughter of William Arthur and Anna Katherine Phillips. She was the youngest of five children. On March 9, 1957, Evelyn married her high school sweetheart, Clifford A. Radke, deceased.

She was a proud Navy wife who served alongside her husband for more than 20 years, and it was duty at the former Naval Training Station in Orlando that brought the family to Central Florida in 1974. She loved sharing stories of their many travels and duty stations. She worked as a sales associate with Sears for more than 30 years, receiving the Circle of Honor multiple times.

Evelyn was a member of the Ladies Oriental Shrine of North America, Kismet Court # 86. She loved bowling, cake decorating and attending her five grandchildren’s athletic events.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Cliff, and two infant children.

She is survived by her daughters, Carol Ann Willard (Jim), Virginia Dawn Leon (Bill); grandchildren, Anna Willard Headley (Will), Gradon Radke Willard, Chelsea Leon, Stephanie Leon and Charlotte Leon; great-grandchildren, Cooper James Headley and Elizabeth Ann Headley; sister, Gwendolyn Wilde of Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

A private service will be held Thursday for immediate family. She will be buried at Woodlawn Memorial Park. Memorial donations suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association, Central and North Florida Chapter, Longwood, Florida.