St. George, Utah - Our loving daughter, mother, grandmother, aunt, sister and dear friend joined her beloved husband on the other side on Friday, December 3, 2010. Mom was born in old Butler, Tennessee (now covered by Watagua Dam) on January 11, 1917 to Ida Mae Glover.

Wilma attended grade school in a one-room building that taught all grades. After high school graduation she attended Watagua Academy in Butler. She gained her diploma for teaching, and taught for a short period of time. While teaching she worked in a restaurant, where she met the future love of her life. She married Melvin Carl Eklund on September 23, 1941 in Butler. After a short honeymoon they set up housekeeping in Butler.

Dad worked for a drilling company which kept the family moving all over the United States. Their only daughter was born in 1942 in Illinois. Soon Melvin was working in Central America, and Wilma moved back to Butler to raise Karen. They later lived in Wyoming for several years before moving to Salt Lake City in 1961.

Mom enjoyed many hobbies, and seemed to excel in them all. She was a wonderful cook, and many memories are of after school aromas as she baked almost daily. She was a perfectionist at her ceramics. She sold many, and gave many to family and friends. Mom and Dad enjoyed traveling, and saw many states and wonderful sights. After settling in Salt Lake City, Utah they developed many lifelong friends whom they enjoyed.

She was a faithful member of the Order of Eastern Star for 50 years. She also worked for years with Jobs Daughters. She was a Southern Baptist for years, and after Dads passing joined the Lutheran Church. She stayed busy until the last 10 years of her life. She moved to live with her daughter in St. George, Utah until the last few years when Alzheimers slowly took over her once active life.

She is survived by her daughter Karen Heil (Wilbert) of St. George, Utah; a granddaughter: Lisa of Denver, CO; 2 grandsons: Kevin of Las Vegas, NV, and Kenny of Ft. Collins, CO; several great-grandsons and great-granddaughters; and by many nieces and nephews of whom she loved dearly. She is preceded in death by her husband, parents, sister, brother, grandsons, and her beloved little poodle Yvette.

Graveside Services will be held Tuesday, December 7, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at Redwood Memorial Estates, 6500 South Redwood Road, Salt Lake City, Utah. She will be buried next to her eternal companion in the Redwood Memorial. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary, 435-673-4221.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to the National Kidney Foundation, 3707 North Canyon Road, Suite 1D, Edgemont Prof. Plaza, Provo, Utah 84604, www.kidney.org.

The family wishes to express their appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Rignell and all of the staff at Kolob Care & Rehabilitation, and Utah Hospice Specialists for the loving care they provided.