December 21, 1925 – December 31, 2021
Wilma Ilene Hawley, 96, Boxley, Ind., passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her loving family, on Friday morning, December 31, 2021. Born on December 21, 1925, in Sheridan, she was the daughter of the late Fred Raymond and June Mildred (Spencer) Cline.
Wilma was a people person who never met a stranger. Most people around the area called her the Boxley Historian due to her love of genealogy and her encyclopedic knowledge of the area. She loved to share what she learned with everyone she met. Throughout her life, Wilma worked in various capacities around the area, adding to the volumes of stories she would collect during her lifetime. For many years she was a substitute bus driver for Sheridan Schools and subbed for the Sheridan Post Office. She was also a custodian with the school system for many years. Wilma took in ironing for many people, and never tired of being community babysitter when she was needed. She also enjoyed helping her sister, Mary Kay Harbaugh, with her event catering business. Wilma never really cared for the catering part of the job, but the socializing aspect was right up her alley. No matter the event, she always found people to talk with and stories to share.
Wilma was an active member of the Boxley United Methodist Church; she taught Sunday School for many years and helped with the nursery school and vacation Bible school. If something was happening out at the church Wilma was bound to be there, helping in whatever capacity she could.
Wilma loved to garden and enjoyed finding ways to attract birds to her property. She also enjoyed oil painting, but her talent was really on display with her Chalk Talk sketches, especially around Christmas time. Taking large sheets of paper, Wilma would begin sketching while someone else would read a story aloud. By the time the story was finished, Wilma’s sketch was usually completed, and ready for everyone to enjoy.
Wilma loved taking care of those around her. There was always a seat at her table and a friend at your side when you needed one the most. She will be greatly missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.
Family was one of the most important things in her life. She loved family road trips and weekend adventures when the kids were younger. Sometimes they would end up at the grandparents’ house, other times they would just drive around and explore the great unknown and everything in between. The destination never mattered – it was the adventures and the memories made together as a family that were the most fun for her.
Wilma is survived by her sons, Robert A. “Bob” Hawley and Larry L. Hawley, both of Sheridan; daughter, Judith E. (Dan) Whicker of Sheridan; grandchildren, Angie Johnson (Mark) of Ohio, Eric Hawley (Anastasia) of Fishers, Jamie Long (Matt) of Noblesville, David Alsup (Kathy) of Sheridan, and Gayle Harvey (Phillip) of Sheridan; great-grandchildren, Chase Hawley, Chad Hawley, Alyssa Johnson, Kaylee Miller, Tom Whicker, Corey Harvey, Stephanie Harvey, and Sonya Alsup; great-great-grandchildren, Keira Hawley, Lilly Harvey, Cambria Hiatt, and Violet Harvey; many nieces and nephews; and by her adopted granddaughter, good friend and “mamaw sitter” Angie Hubble.
She was preceded in death by her parents; grandson, Michael A. Hawley; brother, Lawrence “Pete” Cline; sisters, Mary Kathryn Harbaugh and Jo Ann Bouse; brothers-in-law, Victor Harbaugh and Don Bouse; sister-in-law, Maxine Cline; and by her loving husband of 67 years, Robert William Hawley, on April 29, 2011. She and Robert were married on April 21, 1944. She was also preceded in death by her two canine BFFs, Rags and Croquette, of whom she never missed an opportunity to jokingly tell people, “That’s short for meatball.”
Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, January 5, 2022, at Kercheval Funeral Home, 306 E. 10th St., Sheridan, with Visitation from noon until the time of Service.
Burial will follow at Spencer Cemetery in Sheridan. Pastor Mike Bullick will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be presented to either the Alzheimer’s Association or to the Parkinson’s Foundation.
Condolences: kerchevalfuneralhome.com