Wilma June Albright

Wilma June Albright, 90, of Wichita, KS, passed on to be with her Lord and Savior January 17, 2013.

A celebration of her life and that of her deceased husband, Foster, will be held later this spring.

Private inurnment will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery.

Arrangements are entrusted to Hawks-Shelley Funeral Home & Crematory of Arkansas City, KS. Memorials have been established in Ms. Albright's name for Kansas State University Veterinarian Medical Center or to the Clare Bridge Senior Living Facility in Wichita for lifetime enrichment activities. Contributions can be made through the funeral home. For further information or to send a condolence please visit www.hawksfuneralhome.com.

Wilma June was born June 11, 1922, in Advance, Arkansas, the second of three children of James and Verbal (Perry) Trimble. Her father owned a general store and taught in the rural school that she attended in Advance. She began first grade at age four along with her older sister, and proved that she could keep up with the other students. Her family moved to Oxford, Kansas when she was about seven years old. She attended Oxford schools, Phillips University in Enid, OK and Washburn University of Topeka.

Wilma June's career was teaching. Her first experience was in a rural school house, where she taught students in grade one through eighth. During World War II, she worked at Boeing Aircraft. When she returned to teaching, she taught a variety of grade levels for a period of 22 years. She taught in Kanopolis, Wilson and Hollyrood. She favored teaching language arts to 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students.

On March 15, 1946, Wilma June married C. Foster Albright, a U.S. Army officer, who had served in World War II. They made their home in Kanopolis, where Foster was employed by the Independent Salt Company. Later, the couple moved to Ellsworth, residing there with their two children.
While living in Ellsworth, the family began attending the Baptist church in Lorraine, KS. They became active members, hosting many Bible study groups in their home. Faith led them to a desire to help senior individuals. In 1980, Wilma June and Foster retired and moved to Salina. For five years, they volunteered in retirement homes. Both played the piano and organ, and Wilma June sang hymns beautifully. They performed and led Bible study with seniors.

Wilma June's interests included reading fine literature and poetry, painting, sewing, cooking and gardening. She created a beautiful home and loving environment for her family and friends to enjoy. She was benevolent and kind to neighbors and those in need.

She is survived by her daughter, Susan Dean of Winfield; grandchildren, Micael Stanton and husband, Douglas, of Winfield; Kevin Dean and wife, Danette, of Hutchinson; great-grandchildren Maddie Stanton, Kate Stanton and Drew Stanton, Ilish and Abram Dean and their mother Kristi Dean; daughter-in-law, Kim Wiard; step-grandchildren, Ashleigh Knipp, Mandy Ricke, and Joseph Knipp; step great-grandchildren, Levi Knipp, Madison Ricke, and Ashlynn Ricke and many nieces and nephews. She will be missed by all the staff of Clare Bridge of Wichita, who cared so much for Wilma "June Bug". She loved all of you so much.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her son, Kyle Albright and her sisters, Joan Potucek and Mildred Young.