Wilma Jean Howe

Wilma Jean Howe, 79, of Aurora, Colorado, died on May 19, 2016. She was born in Houston, Texas, on October 10, 1936, daughter of Pat Carl Major Lowry and Lillie Bell Thorne. Wilma graduated from Yuma Union High School in 1955. She left Yuma with her first husband, Alfred Grohe and they were married for 17 years and had four children. After living briefly in Ohio, she then moved to Colorado, where Lora was adopted; Linda was born in Canada soon afterward during a brief military assignment. Wilma then returned to Colorado, where her other two children, Alan and Letha were born. She met her second husband, Donald Glen Howe of Aurora, Colorado and they were together for over 40 years.
Wilma is survived by her husband Don; her four children Lora Dirscherl, Linda Pazevic, Alan Grohe, and Letha Archer; and six grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents and three siblings: O'Kelly Lowry of San Diego; Jimmie Lee Berman of New York; and Letha Ramona Scott of Phoenix.
A literary agent and physicians secretary, Wilma was also an avid painter, reader, and a member of several writers' clubs and church groups. She had a variety of musical talents, including playing hymns on the piano and organ. Wilma also enjoyed singing 'The Yellow Rose of Texas' in her beautiful alto voice, often harmonizing with Lora's soprano. Her real hidden talent, however, was playing 'Lovely Hula Hands' on the ukulele.
Wilma was a woman of many hats: Volunteer organist for the local Yuma prison; mother of four (and a good cook!); student in communications and nursing; fanciful teapot collector; splashy dresser with a penchant for sparkle; ruthless penny-slot gambler; and proud Texan who cheered for the Broncos.
Wilma loved exploring her creative side, putting her energies into painting, writing, and several inventions. Always aspirational, she sometimes dreamed of joining a writers commune in Maine, or following her Cherokee roots.
Wilma loved to travel, whether locally or across country. She frequently rode the train to the east coast, visiting friends and relatives. Some of her favorite destinations included Washington DC, New York City, and Maine. Wilma enjoyed driving around town as well, sometimes using her CB handle, 'Hot Tomato'. She especially loved taking road trips with her lifelong friend, Mona.
She shared this sometimes restless wanderlust with her husband, Don. Together, starting in Aurora, they took up residence in many different places: Idaho Springs, Colorado; Vernal, Utah; Tucson, Arizona; and Cape Girardeau, Missouri. They also spent some time living and traveling in their RV. The couple returned to Aurora for retirement.
Wilma was never far from her beloved pets, whether Max the German Shepherd, Alexander the Siamese blue point, or her pair of Shih Tzus, George and Gracie. She gave each of them a life of warmth, love, and plenty of spoiling. It was simply her nature to be generous to them, and to all of us who are blessed having known her.
While her life's manuscript did not contain a bestseller or an impressionist masterpiece, Wilma nonetheless touched many lives with her refusal to quit dreaming of the next line, the next brush stroke, the next hat. She will be missed.

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