Wilma Louise O'Connell

Wilma Louise O’Connell, 87, of Oak Harbor, Wash., passed away Dec. 14 at Careage of Whidbey in Coupeville, Wash.

O’Connell was born March 30, 1926 in Whitefish to Roy and Helen Lamberson.

She attended grade school in Clayton, Wash., and high school in Whitefish, graduating with the class of 1944. She then moved to Spokane, Wash.

She worked for the U.S. Department of Defense making Army trucks. After the war, she went to work for Armor Meat Company where she met her husband, Jim D. O’Connell. They were married and they moved with the U.S. Navy to Kansas, Florida, Newfoundland, Philippines, California and three moves to Whidbey Island where she retired in the 1970s. Wilma also spent many years working as a housekeeper for NAS Whidbey Hospital.

She enjoyed garage sales, bowling, working in her yard, garage sales, gardening and garage sales. She often went to garage sales, estate sales and yard sales, too.

She is survived by her children, Mike O’Connell of Oak Harbor, Wash., Dan (Susy) O’Connell of Spokane, Wash., Jill (Brian) Lund of Puyallup, Wash., and Kathy (Harry) Hawn of Coupeville, Wash. Grandchildren, Chris Reninger of Phoenix, Andy O’Connell of Washington, D.C., Casey O’Connell of Auburn, Wash., Jennifer and Mitchell Lund of Puyallup, Wash., and Alyssa Moore of Medford, Ore. Great-grandchildren, Mathew Reninger of Phoenix, and Hailey Whipps of Medford, Ore.

She was preceded in death by her husband James in 2006, her parents and five brothers and sisters.

At her request, no services will be held. She and her husband will be inurned at the Tahoma National Cemetery. The family wishes to send many thanks and hugs to all of her caregivers at Careage of Whidbey. They made her stay an easy one and she loved all of you. The family also wish to thank Dr. Gerald Sanders and Dr. Tony Bartley and the staff of Whidbey Community Physicians.

Arrangements are under the direction of Mark Andreasen at Burley Funeral Chapel.