She was the daughter of Richard Russell Hardie and Cornelia Duff Hardie of Riverside, Illinois. Wilma graduated from Wheaton College where she met her husband, Grady Baxter Wilson of Charlotte. At Wheaton she also became close lifelong friends with Billy and Ruth Graham. Grady and Billy joined together with Cliff Barrows and George Beverly Shea in 1949 to form the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and continued that relationship until Grady's death in 1987. Wilma and Ruth often travelled various places around the world to be with their husbands' ministry.
She was a beloved wife, loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She is survived by her daughters Nancy Wilson Gardner and husband Gerald and Constance (Connie) Wilson Fritz and husband Todd; grandchildren James Michael Gardner, Jonathan William Gardner and his wife Jimena, Karyn (Kacy) Kodad and her husband Kris and Lorianne (Lolly) Bowers and her husband Jamie and eight great-grandchildren.
A celebration of Wilma's life is scheduled for Saturday, June 5th at Calvary Church Chapel. Visitation will begin at noon with the funeral service beginning at 1pm. Burial will follow at Sharon Memorial Park.
Memorial gifts may be made to The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association or to Samaritan's Purse.
