Eva Mae Wagoner

Eva Mae Wagoner, 88, of Holton passed away at 1:10 p.m., Sunday, October 1, 2023 at Ripley Crossing in Milan. She was born in the Hopewell Community near Holton on September 18, 1935, the daughter of Floyd and Ida Barricklow Franklin. She was married to Charles Wagoner on December 6, 1959 and he preceded her in death on April 16, 2014. Survivors include two daughters Annette (Mark) Sims of North Vernon and Barbette (Chuck) Wickstrom of Benham; 8 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; two brothers Gene (Shirley) Franklin and Frank Franklin of Holton; one sister Rowena Sanders of Edinburg; sister-in-law Henrietta Franklin of Lawrenceburg; special friends Mike and Terri Beebe of Riverview, Florida. She was also preceded in death by her parents, her son Charles Mark Wagoner, her granddaughter Alivia Wickstrom Burns, her brothers Allen and Ben Franklin, and her sister Leota Conover.

Mrs. Wagoner was a 1953 graduate of Holton High School. Her working career spanned many years with employment at US Shoe in Osgood, serving as a deputy in the Ripley County Clerk’s office, and at Hopkins Store in Holton. In their later years Charles and Eva Mae lived in Florida and she worked as a server in the Po Folks and Western Sizzlin restaurants. She retired in 2002 from the Firemen’s Fund Insurance Company in Tampa where she wrote claims. She enjoyed being with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also loved fishing, sewing, embroidery, and would say she could hold her own with the boys in the bass club. Eva Mae was a member of the Hopewell Baptist Church, Eastern Star, and the Dixie County Bass Club.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 6 at 1 p.m. at the Hopewell Baptist Church with Rev. Kendall Wildey officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will also be on Friday at the church beginning at 11 a.m. Memorials may be given to Our Hospice or the Hopewell Cemetery in care of the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles.