Wilma Van Volkenburg's Obituary
Wilma VanVolkenburg Born April 9, 1908 to Clare and Eva Beal, passed away peacefully, surrounded by loving family, on April 20, 2009. She was preceded in death by her husband, Zack VanVolkenburg (1991), and her eldest Daughter, Veda (Willard) Miller (2007). Wilma lived part of her childhood in a train boxcar with her six siblings, all now deceased, and was mostly unschooled. She married "Zackie" January 1927. Wilma made spending-money baby-sitting and assisting Zack selling cotton candy and snow cones at various events around Tacoma, including every Halloween at a local funeral home. The two were a popular Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus at various functions. Wilma became well known for her amazing crochet work, a skill she perfected by magnifying photos from a newspaper she could not read. She also shared an organic vegetable garden with daughter Veda, and was known by some for her delicious apple cobbler and gifts of homemade applesauce. In her later years, Wilma was a grandma to every child in church, frequently swarmed for the love she always carried in her heart and the candy she always carried in her pockets. Her quick mind and exceptional hearing belied her 101 years. Wilma is survived by four of her children, Charles (Helen) VanVolkenburg, Obed (Lorraine) VanVolkenburg, Nelda (Norman) Behling, and Donald (Marie) VanVolkenburg; by 12 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and 1 great great-grandchild. Graveside services will be held at Mountain View Funeral Home and Memorial Park at 1:30 P.M. on Monday, April 27, with a reception to follow at Olympic View Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations in Wilma's name to Multiple Sclerosis Society, Olympic View Baptist Church, or Multicare Hospice.
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