Martha B. Wiles' Obituary
Martha Elizabeth Bowden Wiles of Memphis, 100, passed away on February 6th after a brief illness. Martha was born September 16, 1911 in Lewisburg, TN. She married her high school sweetheart Paul Wiles, and they settled in Memphis. Together they established Wiles Drug Store on Union Avenue. Martha and Paul’s welcoming personalities drew customers in and soon it became known as the midtown country club, where friends, politicians, and newspapermen gathered. Wiles Smith Drug Store remains Memphis’s oldest independently owned pharmacy. Martha and Paul inspired three generations of pharmacist’s in their family. Martha has been a faithful member of Idlewild Presbyterian Church for eighty years receiving an Honorary Life Membership from the Presbyterian Women last year. Martha also volunteered her time and talents to serving the community. She served on the Idlewild Elementary School PTA where her three children attended. She was an active member of her garden club and also the Association for the Preservation of Antiquities, where she focused on the renovation and preservation of the historic Fontaine House. Her hobbies included travel, needlepoint, antique shopping, reading, gardening and cooking. Her caramel cake was famous among family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband William Paul Wiles, and her son William Paul Wiles II. Survivors include her daughters Wanda Wiles Crowe (Bob) and Harriet Wiles Lipscomb, 5 Grandchildren Vicki Seago (Don), Curt Witt, Paul Wiles III, Coy Sellers (Vicky) and Shaun Sellers (Michelle), 16 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren. The family will receive friends in the Ladies Parlor at Idlewild Presbyterian Church at 1:00pm on Wednesday, February 8th. Funeral Services will follow immediately at 2:00pm in the Church Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Idlewild Presbyterian Church or the Memphis Union Mission.
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