Wilma June Waters age 86 years, 2months, and 23 days of Stearns, Kentucky passed on to her eternal life on September 27, 2016 at her home.
A Celebration of Life was held Saturday, October 1, 2016 at 2:00pm at the Hickman-Strunk Funeral Home with Bro. Roger Bryant and Bro. Daniel Wightman officiating. Burial followed in the Tom Jones Cemetery in Cooperative, Kentucky. Serving as pallbearers were Cole Loudermilk, Zack Loudermilk, Stephen Mounce, Jason Strunk, David Waters, and Steven King.
Wilma was a member of the Stearns First Baptist Church. She lived a Christian life and was a devoted wife, mother, and friend to all. She taught school at Dobbs Hollow for two years after attending Eastern Kentucky University. She retired from the McCreary County Public Library in 2011 after 33 years of devoted service. She believed if you could read that your mind could take you anywhere.
Wilma was a member of various organizations that involved charitable work and volunteering. She was the first woman to be nominated for the McCreary County Board of Elections. She was also a 58 year member of the Order of the Eastern Star having first joined the Vicco Chapter in Perry County, Kentucky in 1958 before returning to Stearns where she continued her membership at the Laurel Heights Chapter #288. Wilma held the positions of Star Points, Grand Representative for Oklahoma in Kentucky, Worthy Matron, District Deputy Matron, Secretary, and Treasurer. Wilma believed in the principals of charity, faith, hospitality, and most of all love.
Wilma was born in Co-operative, Kentucky the daughter of the late Francis Marion and India Jayne (Jones) Cooper. Her maternal grandparents were the late Thomas Sherman and Elizabeth (Ramsey) Jones and her paternal grandparents were the late Edward Wilson and Elizabeth (Shepherd) Cooper. On May 21, 1951, Wilma married the love of her life, the late LeRoy "Bud" Waters in Jellico, Tennessee.
Wilma is preceded in death by her husband; parents; grandparents; brothers, George Howard Cooper, Thomas Harlen (Bob) Cooper, Jonathon Edward Cooper, and Marion (baby Marion) Cooper; two half brothers, Harold Denton Cooper and Glen W. Cooper; three sisters, Beulah Cooper, Thelma (Cooper) Watters, and Lois Ann (Cooper) Watters; one daughter, Belinda Jayne (Waters) Chitwood; two granddaughters, Amanda Dawn Miller and Randi Elaine Chitwood; and one grandson, Daniel Ray Owens.
Wilma is survived by her children, Joe Waters and wife, Joy, Marisa Dawn and husband, Phillip Strunk, Jeff and wife, Audrey Faye Waters, Lori Watters Miller, Libby and husband, Jerry Pennington all of Stearns, KEntucky, Tim Waters of Newport, Kentucky, Sue Carol and husband John Powers of Anson, Texas, and Evonne and husband, Leonard Kennedy; grandchildren, David Waters, Kylie Waters, Jason Strunk, Carri Strunk, Jennifer Mounce, Lauren Pennington, Lyndsey Pennington, Brooklyne Chitwood, Benjamin Kennedy, Amy Powers, and Christopher Powers; great grandchildren, Jude Waters, Seth Waters, Ava Kate Whipple, Kara Grace Whipple, Lucas Strunk, Logan Strunk, Cole Loudermilk, Zackery Loudermilk, Abbi Mounce, Bella Mounce and Josh Powers; Wilma is also survived by many relatives and special friends, including nephew, Tom Watters and wife, Phoebia, Stacy Matthews and her daughter, Allie Hobbs.
In lieu of flowers, the family ask that donations be sent to the McCreary County Public Library(PO Box 8 Whitley City, KY 42653) in Wilma's honor.
Hickman-Strunk Funeral Home served the family of Mrs. Wilma June Waters.