Wilma Grace Larson

Wilma Grace (McKim) Larson was born on July 20, 1937, in Meridian, Mississippi, to Loyal Vernor McKim and Bessie (Dunnam) McKim. She passed away peacefully in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on October 20, 2021, with her son and daughter-in-law at her bedside. She grew up in Meridian, Mississippi, and Mankato, Kansas, where she graduated high school. As an adult, she lived in Lawrence, Kansas, and later, was a long-time resident of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

She married Hjalmar Maurice Larson in 1959, and her only child, Erik Larson, was born in 1968. In addition to her roles as wife and mother, Wilma worked in various positions for the Kansas Geological Survey, Douglas County Bank of Lawrence, and the First National Bank of Englewood, Colorado. Later in life, she worked as a receptionist for Daniels Chevrolet and then Metro Brokers, both in Colorado Springs, and also assisted with the needs of elderly family members.

Wilma was a member of the Colorado Springs First Church of the Nazarene (Springs First) since 1975, where she often volunteered her time. She also assisted with New Hope in the Rockies, PTO, and parent organizations supporting the music programs at Erik’s schools. Her interests included research into the genealogy of both sides of her family, southern gospel and classical music, and travel – especially in the mountain states and New England. A skilled cook and baker, Wilma would frequently be found reading one of the many cookbooks in her collection, simply for the enjoyment of what she found in it. She treasured summers at the family cabin near Bailey, Colorado, where her love of animals and of nature was on full display, and during her final years while living in Alabama, she enjoyed being involved with the activities of her grandchildren. However, it was in study of the Bible where she found the most defining element of her life. Despite her declining health and other challenges, she would not hesitate to speak about the goodness of God, or of His offer of salvation through Jesus Christ. With the Apostle Paul, she could say,

For what I received, I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. – I Corinthians 15:3-4

Being preceded in death by her husband, Hjalmar, and a sister, Norma Carper, she is survived by her son and his wife, Erik and Emily Larson, and her grandchildren, Elise and Emery, all of Tuscaloosa; her sister, Eileen Greenawalt, of Lawrence; and by loving nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

After facing painful health problems for many years, we know that Wilma has been released from the struggles of this life, and into the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, where

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. – Revelation 21:4