Wilma Leone Wilson Hay passed away peacefully at the age of 91 surrounded by her loving family on May 7, 2014, in her home at Silvergate Retirement Residence in Fallbrook, Calif.

Wilma was pre-deceased by her husband of 71 years, Theodore “Ted” Hay; her daughter, Patricia Heidel; her parents, William Wilson and Mary Cook Wilson; and her four siblings, Glenn Wilson, William Wilson, Videtta Ilene Wright and Jeanne Kenagy.

She is survived by five daughters, Mary Freeland, Martha Hay-Kaufmann, Katherine Jones, Sylvia Ramey, Peggy (Kincaid) Hower; 13 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.

Wilma married Ted, an Army Air Corps pilot-in-training, in May 1942. She spent her early married years following Ted around the country from one training camp to another. Their first two daughters were born in Kansas. After the war, they settled in northern California where four more daughters were born. They raised their family in Castro Valley and Vacaville.

Wilma, known as “Red” to many, was a strikingly beautiful redhead who possessed all the skills needed to run a busy household on a tight budget. She was an industrious and generous woman who worked with quick efficiency, gave willingly, and taught her daughters to do the same.

Wilma was an outstanding student and community member. She graduated from Osawatomie High School and from Lawrence College of Business in Lawrence, Kan.

A life-long member of the Presbyterian Church, Wilma served as Sunday School coordinator, deacon, elder, circle leader, and United Presbyterian Women’s president, vice president and treasurer. Wilma was a Garden Club officer and avid gardener who grew beautiful yards full of flowers and vegetables. She made it her mission to provide food and flowers to all who needed them — especially children, the sick and the elderly.

Although she struggled with debilitating anxiety and mental illness, Wilma never gave up. With her husband by her side, she raised her family, served her community, sought self-awareness and shared her strong faith in God’s goodness. She filled her home with flowers, music, needlecrafts, books, laughter and abundant love. She always had time for visiting with neighbors, playing games and doing jigsaw puzzles.

In a letter dated May 13, 1999, Wilma wrote, “We Mothers don’t know what our children are learning from us while we are doing something we love to do. I’ve learned so much with and from all of my children. I feel so grateful for the experience, and my life has been just right.” She will be dearly missed by all.

The family will hold a private service.