08/23/1980
Wilma Needham Smith was born June 23, 1900, at Washington, Iowa, the daughter of Charles and Campbell Nickson Needham, and died at the Lucas County Memorial Hospital August 23, 1980 at the age of 80 years and 2 months.
She was married to Dwight L. Smith on February 23, 1921. To this union were born two children, Charles, who preceded her in death at the age of 14, and Patricia Smith Hixenbaugh.
Also preceding her in death were her parents, her husband, her only sister, Helen Needham Lewis, and a grandson, Dean Hixenbaugh.
Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Patsy and Joe Hixenbaugh, four grandsons, David, Greg, Richard and Charles Hixenbaugh, a niece, Mary Shultz Oler, a nephew, Thomas Lewis, and a sister-in-law, Mrs. Jenny Woolson.
Wilma lived a very active life of service. She was an Elder of the Presbyterian Church and was elected to an Honorary Membership in the Program Agency of the United Presbyterian Church in recognition of her lifetime of Christian Service.
She served terms on the Chariton School Board and the Chariton Planning Commission. She served for many years as a Gray Lady Volunteer at the Veterans Administration Hospital at Knoxville.
She was a member of "Old Thirteen" Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a member of Chapter N, P.E.O., was a charter member of the Chariton Book Club, and was a past President of the Chariton Women's Club.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Monday, Aug. 25, 1980 at the Fielding Funeral Home with the Rev. Fred Mansfield conducting. Burial was in the Chariton Cemetery.