Betty L. Wildman, 85, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017, at 11:05 a.m. at Miller’s Merry Manor in Warsaw where she had been a resident since January 2017.
She was born on Feb. 28, 1932, in West Prestonsburg, Ky., to Wiley and Lula Shepherd Whitaker. Her family moved to the rural area of Silver Lake and she graduated from Silver Lake High School in 1950.
After a previous marriage, she was united in marriage to Ellis Dean Wildman on Nov. 7, 1958, in Warsaw. They were married for almost 58 years before her passing.
Betty began her working career on the family farm at an early age and then became a telephone operator for United Telephone in the 1950s and early 1960s. In 1969, she started working for RR Donnelly and retired from there in 1987 after 18 years of service.
After retirement, Betty began volunteering at the local Our Father’s House where she helped serve lunches to many and created and maintained the flower gardens in front of the store. She loved gardening and had many flower gardens at home, which she maintained along with collecting antiques that she truly loved. She was a member of the Community Bible Church.
Surviving along with her husband are three sons: Rick (Cindy) Heckaman, Winona Lake; Steve (Susan) Heckaman, Warsaw; Mark Wildman, Warsaw; a daughter, Renee (Lee) McAfee, Plymouth; grandchildren: Jodi Gast, Winona Lake; Joshua (Andrea) Heckaman, Mentone; Jeremiah Heckaman, Warsaw; Jason (Sara) Heckaman, Warsaw; Cherish Heckaman, Warsaw; Jennifer McAfee, Plymouth; and Mallory McAfee, Plymouth. She also is survived by 11 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers, Edward Whitaker, Lee Whitaker and Robert Whitaker.
A visitation will be held Sunday, Oct. 8 from 1 to 5 p.m. in McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel in Warsaw. A funeral service will be held on Monday, Oct. 9 at 10 a.m. in McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel in Warsaw with Dr. Keith Rickert officiating. Burial will follow in Lakeview Cemetery in Silver Lake.
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Memorial contributions may be made to the Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County, P.O. Box 1906, Warsaw, IN 46581.
To sign the guest register or leave condolences, electronically, go to mchattonsadlerfuneralchapels.com.
