DEFENBAUGH, Wilma Lucille (RHODES)

RHODES, DEFENBAUGH, BROWN, BOSWELL, WANNARKA, HOPKINS, DOBSON

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 4/23/2015 at 03:10:56

Obituary ~ Wilma Lucille (Rhodes) Defenbaugh
August 26, 1916 ~ October 24, 2003

Osceola Sentinel-Tribune
Osceola, Clarke County, Iowa
March, 2003

Wilma L. Defenbaugh of Osceola, the daughter of Helen Edna Brown and William C. Rhodes, was born Aug. 26, 1916, in Decatur County and died Oct. 24, 2003, at the Kavanagh House in West Des Moines. She was 87.

She attended schools in Decatur County and graduated from Kellerton High School. She received her teaching certificate and taught school in Decatur and Ringgold Counties.

She married Earl William Defenbaugh on Feb. 1, 1936. The couple had two children, Sharon and Larry.

Mrs. Defenbaugh was an active member of the Osceola United Methodist Church. She was a member of the Retired Teachers Association, Osceola Women’s Club, Clarke County Hospital Auxiliary, Sarah Rebekah Lodge Number 57 and the United Methodist Church Women. She will be remembered for her loving ways, serving countless funeral dinners, her affection for cooking and baking and her love for her family.

Mrs. Defenbaugh was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Earl, in May, 1993; son, Larry in March, 2003; five brothers, Cecil, Ted, Fred, Brown and Russell and one sister, Belle Boswell.

She is survived by her daughter, Sharon Wannarka and her husband, Bob Wannarka, West Des Moines; daughter-in-law, Karen Defenbaugh of Osceola; four grandchildren, Linda Hopkins of Osceola, Michael Dobson of West Des Moines, Jeff Defenbaugh of New Virginia and Steve Dobson of Austin, Texas; eight great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren, as well as other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held Monday, Oct. 27, at the Osceola United Methodist Church. The Rev. Hugh Stone and the Rev. L. Duane Churchman officiated. Fred Diehl gave the eulogy. Organist Pennie Gonseth accompanied Martha White who sang Amazing Grace and How Great Thou Art. Interment was in the Maple Hill Cemetery. Casket bearers were Michael Dobson, Steve Dobson, Fred Diehl, Jeff Defenbaugh, Mike Hopkins and Chuck Edwards. Kale Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2015