A long time Quincy resident, known and dearly loved not only by her family and dearest friends, but also by those many whose lives she touched through her selflessness, generosity and never-ending volunteerism within the community, has passed away.  

WILMA JEAN WOOD THOMAS-HILL-THOMAS, 87 passed away February 11, 2014 leaving behind a legacy of world travels and many hours of volunteer work.  Wilma gave her time abundantly and unselfishly to the community as a volunteer with the American Red Cross, the Illinois Veterans Home, and the Blood Bank as well as having worked many hours at Blessing Hospital and just about everywhere she thought she could be of helpful. 

Wilma was born January 7, 1927 in Ardmore Oklahoma to WEAUNITA PAULINE BRODGEN THOMAS-WOOD, of Wilson Oklahoma, who died the next day of complications from giving birth to Wilma.  Her father, Raymond Wood, relinquished custody of her and she was adopted by her maternal grandparents   (Weaunita’s mother and step father), Woody H & Lenora Thomas, of Wilson Oklahoma.   They adopted Wilma on February 25, 1927 and she then became Wilma Jean Thomas. 

In February of 1929 her Maternal Grandfather and adopted father Woody H Thomas was killed by a train and Lenora was left alone to raise Wilma and two other older children.   At this point Wilma spent much of her childhood with various relatives around the country as times were hard during these years and everyone shared in the responsibilities of her up bring.  It is suspected that this may well have been where Wilma developed her love of travel and adventure, as well as her ability to quickly turn the strangers she met along her life’s path into endearing friends.

In 1940 Lenora and Wilma left the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma area and moved to Inkster Michigan, near Dearborn.  There Wilma graduated from Melvindale High School in 1943.  Shortly after graduation and during the war times, Wilma met Randy Hill, a native Quincian.  They were married in the spring of 1944.  In 1947 they moved to Quincy, Illinois and Randy Hill went to work for Quincy Police force.   Randy and Wilma divorced in October 1979 and Randy Hill passed away in 1986. 

In 1953 Wilma, as she put it, was blessed when she became a part of the research team at Moorman’s manufacturing of Quincy.  This career opportunity would lead her on travels around the world to 55 different countries most she visited more than once. 

 While at Moorman’s  (and even after she retired from there) she continued her education through Quincy College, John Wood, University of Colorado and Western Illinois University and became a registered Microscopist and when on to be the President of the American Association of Feed Microscopists (AAFM), she actually over time held every executive position there was within AAFM.  Wilma became nationally and internationally recognized for her expertise in the field of Feed Microscopy.   As a representative of the AAFM, Wilma taught Professors and Veterinarians as well as Chemist all across the USA, Canada and Mexico and across the globe.  Through her accomplishments she earned numerous awards and was recognized globally, including two most notable, an honorary Doctorate from Barcelona Spain School of Veterinary Medicine and also one from the University of Yogyakarta, Indonesia.  Wilma sat and dined with some of the most powerful leaders of foreign countries where women were usually were not allowed, especially in China, Muslim and Asian countries.   Wilma received nearly every award and honor that could be earned for her work in Microscopist across the globe which is quite extraordinary for a woman in the 50’s and 60’s and even into the 70’s. 

On March 2, 1986 Wilma married longtime family friend and Quincian Jack L Thomas.  Jack and Wilma moved to Colorado for several years residing in Ft Collins before returning to Quincy in 1989.   Jack preceded Wilma in death on September 15, 2009.  Wilma and Jack were the best of friends and both were Moorman retirees.  Both enjoyed their times with the Quincy-German Festivities and their travels with that group to Germany.  

After retiring from the Microscopist in 1995 because travelling abroad was just too much at her age, Wilma turned her attention to volunteering and one of the awards she was most proud of was the Geo W Bush Presidential Award for her service with the American Red Cross.  She loved her work and the time she spent at Red Cross stating it was so gratifying to be able to help people.  She even traveled to Haiti, as well as Florida and other parts of the USA during disaster events. 

Over the course of her life Wilma was very active in the Order of Easter Star having been Past Matron in the Quincy Chapter, the Estes Park Colorado chapter as well as the Ft. Collins Colorado Chapter.  She also was very active over the years in the Shriners and Daughters of the Nile. 

Of the all the travels Wilma was most proud, was traveling to Jerusalem with a group from Madison Park Christian Church where she was baptized in the Jordan River reportedly near the same place Jesus Christ would have received the baptism.   The second most rewarding trip she made, she would say was visiting Africa and being able to cruise the Amazon River. 

Wilma is survived by one daughter Pat Hill Ellison of Ewing, Missouri, one son, Mike Hill of Pleasant Hill Iowa and one step Daughter Pam Thomas Nobis of Quincy, Illinois.   She leaves behind 8 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren.  

The family of Wilma wishes to express their deepest gratitude for all the staff at Illinois Veterans Home for their gracious caring and loving of our mother/friend while she lived there from 2009-2014. 

Wilma has requested Cremation following a memorial service at the funeral home in Quincy and that her remains be placed on the gravesite of her Mother in Wilson Oklahoma.  All funeral arrangements are being handled by Hansen-Spear Funeral home of Quincy. 

Services: 10:00 a.m. on Friday, February 14, 2014 at Hansen-Spear Funeral Home. 

Visitation: Thursday from 4-7 p.m. at Hansen-Spear Funeral Home. 

Inurnment: Hew Cemetery in Wilson, Oklahoma at a later date.

Memorials:  in lieu of flowers, Madison Park Christian Church Missionary Fund, The American Red Cross or the Salvation Army.

www.hansenspear.com
Hansen-Spear Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.