WILKINS, Janice H. Formerly of East Walpole MA, Westwood, MA, and New York NY, died July 14, 2018. She was 96 years old. She was the beloved daughter of the late Ralph Wilkins and the late Florence Wilkins also of East Walpole.
Ms. Wilkins was born in Brewer Maine, but in 1923 her family moved to East Walpole where she attended school and graduated from Walpole High School. After high school Ms. Wilkins obtained an associate’s degree in liberal arts and sciences from Colby-Sawyer College, and went on to earn a bachelor's degree in history and government from the University of Maine. After college Ms. Wilkins studied law and was one of a very few women to obtain a law degree from Boston University. She was admitted to the bar in 1947 and worked as an intellectual property lawyer for the Kendall Corporation, which was then located in Walpole.
In 1953, at age 30, Ms. Wilkins was the first woman to run for and be elected to the position of Selectman in the Town of Walpole. She finished third and was elected to 9 more terms, and served both as Chairman and Clerk of the Board.
In 1963 after 10 terms as a Selectman as well as a successful career as an intellectual property lawyer, Ms. Wilkins moved to New York City to take a position in trademark law with the American Cyanamid Corporation. For 37 years Ms. Wilkins had a very successful law practice not only with American Cyanamid, but also with the Olin and Squibb Corporations.
In 2001, at age 80, Ms. Wilkins retired from legal work and moved to Fox Hill Village in Westwood MA. Janice will be remembered not only for her kindness, sense of humor and lively mind, but also for her command of a vast array of topics connected to history, current events, sports, politics and literature. She will be remembered fondly by her many friends, neighbors, colleagues, and especially by the many caregivers at Fox Hill who enriched her life in many ways.
A funeral service will be held at the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington St., (Rt.16) WELLESLEY, Wednesday, July 18 at 12:00pm. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Interment will follow in the family plot in North Beverly Cemetery, Beverly. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Janice’s memory to Colby-Sawyer College, Office of Annual Giving, 541 Main St., New London, NH 03257.