Wilma Leura Hatfield 's Obituary
Mrs. Wilma Leura Nichols Hatfield was born on December 21, 1929 in Kemp, Oklahoma. She passed from this life to be with her beloved Savior and God on Sunday May 17, 2020 in Dallas, Texas.
Wilma and her twin brother, Wallace, were born at home three months into the great depression. She worked hard all of her life starting as soon as she could pull a cotton-picking sack through the field. Immediately after the depression World War II started so the family still lived in relative poverty of that era in the rural south. Despite this start, she had an eye for and a love of beautiful things.
She finished high school a year early while playing basketball on the defensive end of the court. She managed to keep her skills showing her grand children how to play. After high school she earned a degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State College in Durant doing whatever work there was to pay her way. She made use of that degree by teaching for several years.
In 1953 she married Mr. W.C. Hatfield whom she met on a date arranged by friends. They moved to Garland, Texas where Mr. Hatfield worked in public accounting before going to work at Republic Bank in Dallas. She continued to be a hard worker raising and guiding the three children born to this union, spending untold hours nurturing and educating and caring for and worrying about her family. She spent years of time caring for extended family and friends or even strangers who needed a helping hand, helping with Dallas Christian Schools, and her first love, the Church of her God. She exemplified 3 John 1:4 “I have no greater joy than to know my children are walking in the truth.”
She was a voracious reader of all types of literature especially spending hours in God’s word knowing the Bible by heart. She was a lover of God’s word and Jesus and this sustained her through the blessed times and troubles of this life caring for others through pain starting as a young woman with arthritis then being a strong and faithful woman in adversity and sickness and loss. She loved her family and especially was blessed by her grandchildren and great grand-children.
Wilma was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years W.C. Hatfield, her father and mother Mr. Clyde Nichols and Mrs. Nettie Nichols. By two brothers, her twin Wallace Nichols, and Mr. Ernie Nichols.
She is survived by her sister Mrs. Rheva Wells (Dan), a brother Mr. Lyndon Nichols, Her children Dr. David Hatfield (Nancy), Mrs. Sharon Grotlisch (Brad), Mrs. Amy Monroy (Joe). Grandchildren Robert Hatfield (Emily), Rachel Eudaly (Nick), Rebecca Walton (David), Kevin Grotlisch (Jessica), Claire Monroy, great grandchildren Mary Greer Eudaly, Laura Price Eudaly, Cameron Walton, Everett Walton and a host of loving extended family and friends.
A graveside service is planned for 11:00 am, Saturday May 23, 2020 at Restland Cemetery 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or charity of your choice.
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