Wilma F. Dunn

Wilma Ellen Frazier Dunn. Born April 5, 1919; died May 17, 2013, at the age of94.Wilma was born at home in Berthoud, Colorado, to William A. and Sarah EllenFrazier. She was the eighth of nine children. The family farmed in Berthoud, andall the children went through the Berthoud schools.Wilma graduated from Berthoud High School in 1936 after completing 8th-1ihgrades in four years, and then attended Colorado State College of Education(now UNC) for two years. She taught briefly at Pleasant Hill School southeast ofLongmont before marrying James Herbert Dunn in 1942. Wilma and Jim farmedin the Longmont area for many years and had two daughters, Sandy and Judy.They eventually moved into the town of Longmont.During her years as a farm wife, Wilma participated in a volunteer extensiongroup with other farm wives. This group was a service organization whichallowed the members to participate in community activities while nurturing theirintelligence and express their creativity through the arts. She was also amember of the Order of Eastern Star in Johnstown and a charter member ofLiberty Hall Grange.After the family moved into Longmont, Wilma resumed her studies at ColoradoState College during the summers and at night school, earning her B.A. degreein 1958. At that time she was also awarded a Colorado lifetime teachingcertificate. Wilma went on to earn her M.A. degree in 1967 from UNC.She revived her teaching career by instructing upper grades at Burlington Schoolsouth of Longmont. She later taught sixth grade at Mountain View Elementary,transferring to Central Elementary where she stayed until her retirement in 1982.After retirement, Wilma fulfilled her dream of traveling in England and other partsof Europe. She also became interested in genealogy and tracked the familytrees of each of her parents. Through this work she established her eligibility tobelong to the Daughters of the American Revolution and Colonial Dames.Because her parents and grandparents settled in Colorado Territory, she wasalso able to join Territorial Daughters of Colorado. She was active in all three ofthese organizations, serving in a variety of leadership positions. Wilma wasparticularly honored when the OAR scholarship (given to a high school seniorwho plans to study social studies) was named for her. Wilma treasured herheritage and felt proud to belong to these patriotic groups.She also belonged to Delta Kappa Gamma, a teacher's honorary society, as wellas Lois Circle at Central Presbyterian Church serving in leadership positions inthese groups. Wilma devoted her time and talents to each group, and they inturn benefited from her dedication.She enjoyed reading the Times-Call, playing games, cooking, sewing, studying,and attending church. She also loved Bridge and studiously improved her gameover the years. She was devoted to her family. She loved to be with herdaughters as well as her many siblings. She often orchestrated family dinnersand hosted them after the death of her mother. Later her belovedgranddaughters, Evette, Kara, and Talia, occupied much of her time and energy.They visited Grandma every summer for many years doing arts and crafts andplaying in her large yard.Wilma is survived by all of the aforementioned family members plus her son-inlawEd and two great-grandchildren, Alex and Keygyn. She also leaves behindmany nieces and nephews and their families.Wilma died as the matriarch of her family. She was preceded in death by herhusband Jim, all of her siblings, all of her in-laws, and many close and lovingfriends.She will be deeply missed!