Wilma Hale

Funeral services for Wilma L. Hale, 95, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, September 9, 2018 in the Rose Chapel at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mrs. Hale passed away at 11:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 4, 2018 at West Vue Nursing Center.

She was born March 30, 1923, to Arthur J. D. and Bessie Cunningham Willard in Dora, Missouri.  Wilma was educated at Bethany Elementary School in Dora, Missouri, and graduated from Ava High School in 1941. She accepted Jesus Christ as her savior at the age of nine and was a long time member of First Baptist Church of West Plains where she worked in various capacities and served as church clerk for many years. On November 20, 1945, she was married at Rover, Missouri to William Hollis (Bill) Hale, who preceded her in death on February 22, 2012.  They had four children and a son who died in infancy.  Wilma enjoyed a long career in bookkeeping and income tax preparation. She was employed by West Plains Garment Manufacturing Company during WW II and by Paul Schwegman Bookkeeping and Income Tax Service until 1962 when she started her own Bookkeeping and Income Tax Service out of her home office. She continued in this profession until her retirement in 1985. She thoroughly enjoyed her work and considered her clients to be her friends. Wilma and her husband founded and owned Whispering Pines Mobile Home Park which they built in 1968. Painting in oil, watercolor, acrylic and pastel was her much loved hobby. She belonged to the West Plains Artist Guild and had won many awards at the Harlin House Art Museum and the Heart of the Ozarks Fair. She also painted several baptistry scenes for churches in the area. Her artwork will be enjoyed by many for years to come.

She is survived by her children Fred Hale and wife, Shirley, West Plains, Gayla Williams and husband, Doug, West Plains, Sherri Stroup and husband, Steve, Farmington, Missouri and Terri Edgar and husband, Benjamin, Billings, Missouri; Bill and Wilma had nine grandchildren including Lisa Brassfield, Brian Hale, John Hale, Steven Brown, Danielle Williams, Derek Stroup, Haley Stroup, Melanie McManis, and Jacob Edgar; They had thirteen great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. Wilma is also survived by her sister Elsie Oliver and her brother Glenn Willard, both of Springfield, Missouri; and a host of beloved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband William H. Hale and one infant son.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 until 7:00 p.m., Saturday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Burial will be in the Oak Lawn Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to Harlin House Museum and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.