Wilma Vivian Sproul

Sproul, Wilma O ObitJuly 1, 1918 – October 15, 2015

Wilma Vivian Mejie Wilson Sproul, 97, passed away October 15, 2015, at the Southern Utah Veterans Home in Ivins.  Born July 1, 1918, in Norwich, North Dakota, she was the daughter of William Mejie and Clara Nordley.   She married Robert Baker in 1943; they were later divorced.  She married Roy Wilson in 1964; he died in 1987.  She married Clark Sproul in 2006; he died in 2011.

Wilma grew up on a farm near Norwich, North Dakota.  She was valedictorian of the Surrey High School class of 1936.  She received a teaching certificate from the State Teachers College in Minot, North Dakota, in 1938 and taught school in an eighth grade, one-room school near Towner for three years.

In 1941, she visited her sister in California and decided to not return to the hardship of winter rural school teaching.  She then pursued a 27-year public service career in personnel administration with the State of California, beginning in Sacramento and ending in Susanville where she retired in 1974.

In 1977, she moved to Grass Valley, California, to be near her recently widowed sister and provided countless hours of volunteer service with the Nevada County Interfaith Food Ministry, Empire Mine, Sons of Norway, Forest Springs Resident Association, Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital, Nevada County Election Board and others until she was 85 years old.  In 2005, she moved to St. George and early in 2015 to the Veterans Home in Ivins.

Sproul, Wilma Y ObitWilma was very meticulous in all she did.  She kept detailed records of the different phases of her life and did everything she undertook to the best of her ability.  Her home was always clean and well organized.  Friends and family were drawn to her warm and welcoming nature.  A wonderful mother to her own son and three step-daughters, Wilma effortlessly blended her family and work life with humor and a loving spirit.

She is survived by her son Gary (Cathy Green) Baker of Ivins, step-daughters Sue Glass of Grover Beach, California, and Ann Cousineau of Fairfield, California, 12 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Grace Emery, sister Marvel Mejie, nieces Donna and Loraine Gadbaw, a step-daughter Carol Closter, and her husbands.

Funeral Services

  • Funeral services will be held Saturday, Oct. 24, 2 p.m. at Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff Street, St. George.
  • A viewing will be Saturday, 12-1 p.m. at the mortuary.

The family would like to express special appreciation to the loving nurses and staff at the Veterans Home in Ivins and to Dr. Scott Parkinson.

Friends and family are invited to sign Wilma’s guest book online.  Arrangements have been made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, St. George, 435-673-2454

 

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