Doris Baker (Wylie) Hoskins

Doris K. Wylie HoskinsMrs. Doris Baker (Wylie) Hoskins, was born October 18, 1911 in Champaign, Illinois, the daughter of Hanse E. and Stella M. Baker. Her father was a student in the College of Engineering, Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. At age 3, her family moved to Lafayette, Indiana, where her father continued his education at Purdue University. Her family returned to Urbana in 1919 and she was enrolled in the 4th grade at the J.W. Hays Grade School. She attended Lincoln School for her 6th grade, then to Thornburn Junior High and graduated from the Urbana Senior High School - Class of 1928.

She moved to Chicago to pursue her career in the Secretarial field and was employed by the Law Firm of Hall, Braden and Hooks, located in the Douglas National Bank. While in the area, she met and was married to Lorenzo P. Wylie, Sr. To this union was born 10 children, 5 boys, and 5 girls - some in the Chicago area at the Provident Hospital, some here in Urbana, Illinois. She returned to Urbana in 1939, enrolled her two oldest in the J.W. Hays School and that started her involvement in the community. She was a member of the P.T.A. there, and moved along until her last child graduated from high school (1965). She was made a life member in 1962. She was appointed a member of the Citizen's Advisory Committee to the Board of Education and the Urbana Park District Advisory Committee and served on those boards until 1974. From 1947 - 1974, she was on staff at the University of Illinois - non-teaching - and worked in the then Nonacademic Personnel Office. In addition, from 1968 - 1974, she taught the Orientation Class for all new employees, including Administrative and Professional, Clerical, Laboratory, Crafts, Janitorial and Food Service. She retired in 1974.

Mr. Wylie passed away in 1976. In 1979, she married Dr. Eugene Hoskins, retired Doctor of Chiropractic. He passed away in 1989.

Her other civic and community service included her Church, St. Mary, where she served as Trustee, Lector and Eucharistic Minister; R.S.V.P. - Tax Counseling For the Elderly; Senior Health Insurance Program, Matthew House Board Member, Provena Covenant Medical Center Auxiliary, Krannert Center Senior Volunteer Program - Usher; Champaign County Historical Society - President; the Committee on African-American History in Champaign County of the Early American Museum.

She was a member of the Champaign County Section of the National Council of Negro Women.

  

This Legacy is Yours was a cooperative effort between the National Council of Negro Women, Champaign County Chapter, and the Museum of the Grand Prairie.

A gold star star denotes original charter members of the Champaign County Section of the National Council of Negro Women.

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