God reached out and took Wilma Anne Woods, age 87, of Orange, Texas, by the hand and welcomed her home on January 6, 2012. Wilma was greeted in heaven by her husband, Willie E. Woods and son, Dwain Woods; also by her parents, sister, Floy Austin, and daughter-in-law, Dorothy Woods.
Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Monday, January 9, 2012, at Cove Baptist Church in Orange with Reverend T.J. Bordelon and Reverend Jeff Bell, officiating. Burial will follow at Orange Forest Lawn Cemetery in West Orange.
Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.
Wilma was born January 24, 1924, in Wells Bayou, Arkansas, to Jennie Smith and Walter Blocker, both descendants of early Arkansas Territory settlers. When her sister died, Wilma helped care for her children, even though she was only 11. Wilma went to work at the Pine Bluff Arsenal building bombs during WWII. In 2009, her family arranged a visit to the arsenal, along with sons Ricky and Danny. She was only the 2nd civilian allowed such a tour. Wilma was able to give the arsenal's commander assistant some history they did not know.
She met Willie Eugene Woods on a blind date. It was love at first sight; he asked her to marry him on that first date and she accepted a week later. They were married 43 years until his passing in 1986. Wilma and Willie had 4 sons between 1945 and 1951 in Arkansas.
Economic growth in Orange Co., Texas, after the war, brought them to Southeast Texas. They lived in Cove and became lifelong members of Cove Baptist Church. They were active in the community Masonic Lodge, Eastern Star, Lions Club, and church. Wilma was a volunteer at Orange Hospital, member of the Red Hats, and loved meeting with her Sunday School class and Christian Women's and the Senior Citizens Of Orange.
She is survived by sons and daughter-in-laws, Ricky Woods of LaGrange, Robert and Gail Woods of Prince George, Virginia, and Danny and Della Woods of Orange; grandchildren, Stacey Sam Allison of Kountze, Regina Shawn Tureman of Norfolk, VA., Melissa Donnie Macneil of Port Neches, Crystal John Woods-Dulin of Marble Falls, Jon Woods of West Bradenton, FL., and Jason Woods of Chesterfield, VA; great-grandchildren, Whitney, Courtney, and Michelle Pomonis, Bobby, Bailey, and Avery Allison, Taylor and Justin Barclay, Madison Lemoine, Alexandra and Cooper MacNeil, Jack and Emma Tureman; and great-great grandchild, Jaxon Barclay. Also surviving is her special grandson, Dr. Nick Pomonis, D.O., and special great grandson, Dr. Jason Pomonis and family.
Memorials and contributions may be made to the Cove Baptist Church Building Fund, 1005 DuPont Dr., Orange, Texas, 77630.