Wilma Jean Walker
Wilma Jean Walker, 70, of Santa Maria, CA, passed away peacefully at Marian Regional Medical Center on April 13, 2023, after a long battle with cancer. She was born premature on June 12, 1952, to Willie Mae Bess and Henry William Walker in Santa Barbara, CA. She weighed in at 2 lbs 13 oz’s. This presented several issues but she prevailed.
Wilma graduated from Santa Barbara High. She resided in Santa Barbara until 2008 when she moved to Pahrump, NV, to reside with her cousin/step-sister Jessie Matthews Spencer and husband Paul. In February, 2014, she returned to CA to reside with her cousin/step-sister Barbara Matthews Godwin in Santa Maria. In January, 2016, she was accepted into the Quality Life Services Program at the VTC Enterprises which she enjoyed and where she formed many friendships. Wilma enjoyed crocheting and enjoyed making throw blankets for family and friends. She was a member of the Santa Maria Church of Christ. Wilma worked as a pre-school assistant in the Early Childhood Education Center at St. Vincent’s in Santa Barbara during the five years before her move to Nevada.
Wilma was predeceased by her grandmother Pearl W. Bess; her mother Willie Mae; her father Henry; her cousin Jennifer L. Robinson; her second cousin Mario Johnson; her third cousin Ricky Green; her second cousin Rhonda R. Godwin; her aunt/stepmother Carrie Matthews Walker; her second cousin Bernadette Johnson; her second cousin Carol Wilson; and her third cousin Kaelynn Stiles.
Wilma never married. However, remaining to cherish Wilma’s memory are cousin/step-sister Barbara Godwin of Santa Maria; cousin/step-sister Mary Stiles of Santa Barbara; cousin/step-sister Jessie Matthews-Spencer and husband Paul of Pahrump, NV; cousin/step-brother Edker Matthews of Gig Harbor, WA; cousin/step-sister Patricia Matthews of Las Vegas, NV; and a number of second, third, and fourth cousins, and friends.
The memorial service for Wilma will be on Saturday, August 19that 11:00 am, at the Santa Maria Church of Christ with evangelist Don Smith presiding. It is located at 416 N. Lincoln St in Santa Maria. A potluck will follow. (As this is a Saturday, parking may be a problem. Carpooling is suggested if possible.)
