Dorothy Elkins-Bauer, 102, of Woburn, passed away peacefully in her sleep at 1:05 a.m. Saturday< March 24, 2018 in Greenville Nursing and Rehabilitation in Greenville. Dorothy was born on October 11, 1915 in rural Smithboro, IL, to Rufus and Minnie (Campbell) Elkins, next to the youngest of fifteen siblings. Dorothy lived and worked in the area her whole life. At age 40, she was head of her local union and her career as an advocate/arbitrator began. She was an outreach worker for Senior Citizens Plus in Alton, IL. She earned her high school GED at age 60, and at age of 61 she launched a third career as a paralegal for the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation. As an advocate for senior citizens, she was instrumental in establishing a satellite information site in Greenville, now the Bond County Senior Center. She retired at age 83 from the Illinois Department of Aging. While there, she was one of 44 Illinois women, age 75 or older, honored by the Department in conjunction with Women’s History Month. Dorothy is survived by six grandchildren, Denny “Skip” Castleman, Jr. of Lexington, KY, Sheena Castleman of Springfield, MO, Toni (Jay) Chezem of Jackson, MO, and Dr. Lisa Castleman of Springfield, MO, Terry (Julie) Tompkins of Yuba City, CA, and Troy Tompkins of Yuba City, CA, along with ten great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren, and many loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her late husband, Fred Bauer, parents, Rufus and Minnie Elkins, 9 sisters and 5 brothers: Grace in infancy, Cleo Jones, Mae Weindel, Frances Dalhia, Florence Bargetzi, Clarice Hubbell, Rosie Greer, Alva Grotts, Lucille Messeral, Louis, Ernest, Denny, Edgar, and Eddie in infancy, two sons, Wesley Morgan Castleman and Denny Thomas Castleman Sr., daughter Cecilia Darlene (Ray) (Tompkins) Vincent, and grandson Trent Tompkins. Visitation for Dorothy Elkins-Bauer will be held at the Donnell-Wiegand Funeral Home, in Greenville from 1-2 p.m. on Saturday, March 24. Memorial services will begin at 2 p.m. following visitation at the Donnell-Wiegand Funeral Home with Dean Guymon officiating. The graveside service will follow at Mount Auburn cemetery, Greenville, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her memory to the Bond County Senior Center, 1001 E Harris Ave, Greenville, IL 62246.
