Wilda was born November 19, 1932, in Holyoke, Colorado, to William A. and Alma Schnell Hanke. Her family later moved to McCook, Nebraska, where she graduated from McCook High School in 1951. She then attended McCook Community College. While in school, Wilda helped out at various family businesses, including Big Bill’s Smoke House and McCook Drive-In Theater. Wilda worked for AT&T, Inc., which eventually took her to Denver, Colorado, where she married Marvin N. Willis, a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, on October 11, 1963. Their time together took them to Germany, Florida, Tennessee, and eventually they settled in Amarillo. After she retired from AT&T in 1992, Wilda spent her time enjoying her family. She was a member of First Baptist Church.

Wilda is survived by her son, William and his wife, Kelly, her daughter Margaret, her grandson Tanner and his wife, Amanda, her granddaughter Ashley of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Wilda will be laid to rest at a private graveside service at Memory Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Sharing Hope Ministry Inc., P.O. Box 7160, Amarillo, Texas 79114.