Wilma Elaine Waller, 88, passed away on March 2, 2017 in Beaver Dam, AZ. She was born on March 31, 1928 to George Delbert Sleasman and Vola May Loftis in Powell Butte, OR. She married Steve Nickle at Reno in 1946, and later divorced.
Wilma was raised in Powell Butte and Portland, OR. She attended grade schools there, and Roosevelt High in Portland. She moved many times in her life living in different areas of OR, CA, MT, WA, and NV. She worked in the Portland Ship Yards during World War II. She was a waitress at dinner steakhouses, and packed pears at Harry & David in Medford, OR. She enjoyed going to shows, music performances, fairs, and other events with family and friends. A highlight was getting autographs of several of our United States Presidents, Joey Bishop at the Joey Bishop Show and his guest, Muhammad Ali. Wilma loved history and especially doing her family genealogy. She enjoyed having her family near her, and having fun with all her grandkids. She grew up playing cards including one of her favorites, pinochle, and board games which she taught to all her family. At Beaver Dam, her friend Dorthea Garlick and her enjoyed doing puzzles together day after day for years. Wilma was very talented designing and creating beaded Xmas bells, stained glass items, picture collages, jewelry, and many other crafts. She also learned to paint pictures. She collected stamps, coins, Christmas Santa Clauses, and anything else of interest to her. Christmas was her favorite holiday, and red her favorite color. She loved traveling, seeing most of the United States including Alaska, Hawaii, along with Australia, Fuji, Mexico, and Canada. She once traveled by train across the United States alone.
In later years, Wilma did volunteer work for many organizations including The American Red Cross, March of Dimes, Macular Degeneration, Reno-Tahoe Open Golf Tournament, Reno Rodeo, Reno Air Races, Film Festival, and many more. She won the prestige Jefferson Award in September of 2003 for all her volunteer service.
Wilma was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of LDS, Littlefield, AZ Ward. She served various church callings over the years. She said one of the best decisions of her life was serving a two year mission in the Family History Center in Salt Lake City.
Wilma is survived by her sons, Ron Nickle (Judy) of Scenic, AZ, Stan Nickle and Gary Nickle, her daughter, Penny Nickle all of Beaver Dam, AZ and Jan Perry of Santa Rosa, CA, twelve grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, and seven great-great-grandchildren, brother Jeff Lund (Sharon) of Scenic, AZ, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands Arthur Grillo and Marvin Waller, sister Lorraine Boyd, brother, Ira Sleasman, and grandsons Carlo Grillo and Ryan Sanchez.
The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to Hospice for their tender care provided for Wilma, and the loving support given to the family.
No service was held. A family gathering in Wilma’s memory is planned this month.
