Wilma Wells Detling (1924-2010)

Wilma Jeanne (Wells) Detling, 85, died January 16, 2010 at the Pleasanton, California home of daughter Adrienne Riley, two days short of her 86th birthday.  She had been in poor health for several months.

Mrs. Detling, was born in Visalia, Tulare Co., California on January 18, 1924, oldest of four children of Frank and Verna Wells. She spent most of her childhood in Bakersfield, Kern Co., California. She worked in the office of the J.C. Penney Co. in Bakersfield, where she met her future husband, Howard Norman Detling. The couple married on May 16, 1942, in Bakersfield. After Howard was discharged from the U.S. Army following service in World War II, the couple relocated to Northern California. Howard and Wilma had three sons and two daughters, the two eldest born in Redding, California, and the three youngest born in Willows, California.  She was quite proud that all her kids are all family-oriented. In addition to the support she gave to me in tracing the family history, she especially delighted in the regular visits from her children, grandchilden and great-grandchildren right up until shortly before her death.

If we can be half as good to our grandkids as she was to us, they will be truly blessed.

Wilma Detling was a descendent of Samuel Williams, a Revolutionary War patriot, who married Sobriety Bunker (D15-II), great-great granddaughter of James Bunker (D-1), one of the first European immigrant settlers of what is now the State of Maine.

Mrs. Detling was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Verna Winslow Wells; her husand, Howard;  brother, Glenn Edward Wells; and sister, Evelyn Wells Weaver. Survivors include a sister, Edna Wells Valdez of Bakersfield; three sons and daughters-in-law, Douglas (Manuela) Detling of Medford, Oregon, Martin (Glenda) Detling of Eureka, California, and Wade (Jerie) Detling of Deer Park, Washington; two daughters and sons-in-law, Adrienne (Michael) Riley of Pleasanton and Valerie (Brad) Liggatt of Redding, California; 12 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.