Wilma Mae Mason, 90 years young of Fredonia, Kansas, was welcomed into the arms of her Savior on April 2, 2015, following a short illness. She was born July 28, 1924, on her grandparents" farm on the west edge of New Albany. Wilma was the oldest of four children born to Norval and Vertie (Williamson) Swindler. Her brother, Norval Jr., preceded her in death in 1949 and one sister, Betty Swindler Durham, preceded her in death in 1957. Even though she grew up during The Great Depression, Wilma had a happy childhood. She attended several country schools and enjoyed Spelling Bees and playing first baseman when it came time to play ball. She learned to sew at an early age and made hundreds of garments for her family and friends through the years. Music was a very important part of Wilma"s life. Her grandparents, Jeff and Mae Williamson, played the fiddle and banjo and Wilma loved the Saturday Night Singings in New Albany. Her father bought her an accordion when she was fifteen and she played it for school programs and for many, many years in church. She could play the piano without needing any music. She attended Fredonia High School and on Christmas Eve of her senior year she married her high school sweetheart, Charles Eugene "Gene" Mason. Gene and Wilma made their first home in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where Gene was stationed with the U.S. Army. Gene and Wilma celebrated 72 years of marriage on December 24, 2014, and Gene survives at the Golden Living Center in Neodesha. Church was a very important part of Wilma"s life. She was a member of the Bible Baptist Church for over fifty years. She was always willing to do whatever was needed of her whether it was teaching a Sunday School Class, singing in the choir, or playing the piano for services. In recent years, she was a member of the Calvary Wesleyan Church. She particularly enjoyed being a part of the weekly church services at the nursing home for over 30 years. Wilma was a wonderful, loving, giving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother and friend. She always put others before herself. She always had a positive attitude. Survivors include her husband, Gene; three sons, Calvin and Liz Mason of Independence, Denny and Ellen Mason also of Independence, Mike Mason of Coffeyville; one daughter, Beverly and Paul Elsberry of Fredonia; ten grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; six great-great grandchildren; and two sisters, Mary Deniston of Canon City, Colorado, and Carol Watson of Panama City, Florida. Gene and Wilma had a daughter, Judy Ann, on December 8, 1949, and she passed away on December 9, 1949. Celebration of Life Services will be held at the Calvary Wesleyan Church, Fredonia, Kansas, at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2015. Burial will be in the Weakley Cemetery near New Albany. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday evening, April 6, 2015, 5:00-7:00 p.m. Memorials have been established in Wilma"s name with the Christian Thrift Shop and the Fredonia Flag Fund and contributions may be left with or sent to the funeral home. Timmons Funeral Home, PO Box 168, Fredonia, KS, 66736 is in charge of the arrangements.
Visits: 1
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors