Beloved aunt, great-aunt, and great-great-aunt, Wilma Glorene "Glo'" Wildhaber, 93, of Salem, Virginia, passed away on Thursday, January 13, 2022. Glo was an amazing Aunt. We love you, Aunt Glo. We miss you so much. The daughter of the late WWI Veteran, Joseph Arnold Wildhaber from St. Gallen, Switzerland, and Ethel Moore Goard from Patrick Springs, Virginia. Glo was born June 28, 1928, in Patrick Springs, Virginia, and moved to Salem in the 1930s where she attended South Salem School and graduated from Andrew Lewis High School in 1947. She remained in Salem until she was moved into memory care at the Roanoke Campus of Richfield Recovery and Care in October of 2021. She never married or had children. She started working for the Bank of Salem in May 1948 and worked there until she retired in March 1985. She was an avid bible reader, loved to bowl, and vacation at Virginia Beach. She loved her Swiss heritage she inherited from her father Joseph. She even visited Switzerland. She had a great sense of humor and was always laughing. She was an honor high school student earning merit awards for her outstanding secretary skills, and attended her 40th, 45th, 50th, and 55th high school reunions. She enjoyed interior design and got her associates degree from Virginia Western in the 1970s.
She is preceded in death by her father, Joseph, her mother, Ethel, her sister Cathelyn Wildhaber Barnette (brother-in-law, WW II Army Veteran, Kerry R. Barnette, Jr.), and brother, Navy Veteran, Joseph Franklin Wildhaber (sister-in-law, Anita Reynolds Wildhaber).
She is survived by four nieces, Kimberly Barnette McDonough and husband, Sean of Buchanan, Virginia, Kay Barnette Collins of Waxhaw, North Carolina, Trina Wildhaber Boitnott, and husband, Dale of Boones Mill, Virginia, and Kathy Wildhaber Bowman and husband, Ben of Rocky Mount, Virginia.
Seven great-nieces and nephews: Kerry Caldwell of Eagle River, Alaska, Army Veteran Dusty Sarver and wife, Christina of Wasilla, Alaska, Joshua Boitnott and wife, Rory of Thaxton, Virginia, Brittany Boitnott of Blacksburg, Virginia, and Aaron, Ethan and Anna Bowman of Franklin County, Virginia.
Eight great-great-great-nieces and nephews: Kayla, Kyle, and Lily Caldwell of Riner, Virginia, Kennedy and Kerry Shannon Caldwell of Eagle River, Alaska, Dayla Taylor of Christiansburg, Virginia, and Hanna Elizabeth Cooper and Dusty Michael Sarver of Wasilla, Alaska.
She is smiling down on us with her parents Joseph and Ethel Wildhaber, her sister Cathelyn and brother Joseph Franklin Wildhaber.
Friends may visit with the family from 6 – 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 19, 2022, at the John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home in Salem, Virginia.
A funeral service to celebrate her life will begin promptly at 7 p.m. with Pastor Roger Mcrae officiating. Interment will be held privately with her family at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens in Roanoke, Virginia.
You are kindly asked to wear a face mask and practice safe social distancing while attending services for Ms. Wildhaber.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.johnmoakey.com.