Wilma C. Gardner

June 2, 2011

On Thursday, June 2, 2011, God gently led Wilma Taylor Pinkston Gardner home, surrounded by the loving presence of her family.

Wilma was born on January 17, 1916, at the home of her maternal grandparents, John Blanchard Burroughs and Bettie Corona Hines Burroughs in the Wildcat community in Coke County, Texas. She was the oldest of ten children born to Charles and Clara Burroughs Taylor.

Services will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, June 4, at the Baptist Memorial Chapel.

Wilma attended schools in Friendship, Wildcat, and Robert Lee. She graduated from Water Valley School in 1933.

Wilma married Aubra “Pete” Pinkston in 1933, and they had more than 32 years of genuine happiness before he died in 1965. Wilma often said she loved being married – being special to someone and having a special someone. She and Pete had one beautiful daughter, Layla Carline, who was the light of their lives. Much later, she found the second love of her life, Carl Gardner.

At the time of Pete’s death in 1965, Wilma was teaching at the San Angelo Business College. She was also employed at the Cactus Hotel as a switchboard operator and at Mayfield Paper Company. Wilma was a secretary at the Immanuel Episcopal Church and was later promoted to personal secretary for the Reverend Morris Elliot. She was also the financial secretary at First Baptist Church, and she was the director of Community Action Council’s Family Day Homes when she retired in 1986 upon her short but loving marriage to Carl Gardner.

Wilma always dreamed of getting a higher education, but with no interest from her parents during the Great Depression, this dream took many years to become a reality. It was almost 40 years later that she earned her teacher’s certification and degrees in English and Journalism from Angelo State University. Wilma taught for one year at Lake View High School when she decided to return to office work. She interned at the San Angelo Standard Times and later became Business News Editor and Special Editions Editor. Wilma was also the “Girl Friday” for Sam Pendergrass when he published the “Oeste” magazine.

Wilma did not really retire; she only went from paid work to volunteer work. She volunteered in the ICU Waiting Room at Shannon Hospital, Christmas in April, and for 20 years, Wilma was a volunteer coordinator for the Santa Fe Senior Bridge Club.

Until a month before her death, Wilma enjoyed playing bridge and Mahjong and dispatching for Code Blue. She cherished her independence and her family is grateful that she was able to remain in her own home until shortly before her death with the help of many dedicated caregivers at the Baptist Retirement Community.

Wilma was always a devout Christian, and she was a shining example of God’s love until the moment of her death. By her own words, Wilma was a “little bit Presbyterian, a little bit Pentecostal, and a whole lot Baptist.” She taught Sunday School for many years at Immanuel Baptist Church, 24th Street Baptist Church, Grape Creek Baptist, and First Baptist Church. One of her proudest accomplishments was witnessing to more than 50 home-bound members of St. Paul Presbyterian Church through monthly inspirational letters that she composed and mailed.

Wilma was preceded in death by her husbands, Pete Pinkston and Carl Gardner; son-in-law Troy Tucker; four brothers, (Neal, Gene, Dub, and Herb Taylor,) and three sisters, (Christine, Frances, and Bettie Louise.)

Wilma is survived by her daughter, Carline Pinkston Tucker; granddaughters Rhonda Lindsey and Renie Holik; and three great-grandchildren, Lindsey Holik Olenick of Rockport; Michael Holik of Laredo; and Ryanne Lindsey of San Angelo; two younger sisters and a special niece, Debbie Urban; nephew Jeff Caldwell; cousin Bill Evans; and many special friends.

To all who knew her, Wilma Pinkston Gardner was an inspiration and someone who could always be counted on. On her 95th birthday, Wilma decided that the “rest of her life” would be the “best of her life.” Her prayer was that God’s love would flow through her to help others find the right relationship with Him.

Goodbye, Granny…we love you.

Services will be Saturday, June 4, at 2:00 pm at the Baptist Memorial Chapel officiated by Wayne Maxwell, Fred Campbell, Ivan White, and Wes Wells. Arrangements are by Johnson’s Funeral Home.

Those who wish to memorialize Wilma are asked to donate to the Baptist Memorial Auxiliary or to their favorite charity.

Family and friends may sign an online guestbook at johnsons-funeralhome.com