Edness Kimball Wilkins (1896 - 1980) came from a prominent Casper family. Her father and grandfather were pioneer businessmen and civic leaders. Following the sudden death of her husband Roland Wilkins in 1933, Wilkins accepted a personal invitation from Nellie Tayloe Ross to work at the US Mint in Washington D.C. From 1933 to 1947 Wilkins served as Ross' personal secretary. Besides having a good working relationship, the two became close friends, and their friendship lasted until Ross' death in 1977.

In 1947 Wilkins returned to Casper where she worked briefly for the US Bureau of Reclamation and then with the Casper Sanitation Department, where she was supervisor from 1950 to 1951.

In Casper, Wilkins became quite active in numerous civic organizations. She also became very active in the State Historical Society and wrote numerous articles about Casper and Wyoming history for various newspapers and magazines. In 1950 she became active state politics and remained an influential force until her death in 1980. Among her achievements was her political work with the Wyoming Commission for the Status of Women and the Esther Hobart Morris Statue Commission.