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Wilda E. Dempsey James, 83, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in her home, surrounded by her family.
She was born April 26, 1933, in Lippincott, the daughter of the late Cecil and Clara Downs Dempsey. She married the late Horace L. “Junior” James on Sept. 25, 1957, and he preceded her in death.
Wilda was a 1951 graduate of Urbana High School where she was a four- year member of the marching band, was a majorette and served as head majorette her senior year. She was a member of the Urbana Senior Center and the Urbana Moose Lodge 1215. She was self-employed as a beautician for 16 years and worked at Northern Floral in West Liberty for 10 years. She was an avid hunter and fisherman. Wilda always said she was a jack of all trades and master of none, to include cake baking and decorating, knitting, sewing and cooking.
Christmas and Easter were always extra special because of all the homemade cookies and candies. Wilda loved watching cowboy movies, she had a great love of travel, especially for Wyoming and the Western U.S. and had been to all 50 states with her travel buddy, Elaine Pennington.
She lived an extraordinary life and had so many adventures and experiences with stories that nobody would believe. Wilda never knew a stranger and never went anywhere without having a good time.
She is survived by daughters, Jamie (Todd) MacRae of West Mansfield and Jana James (Richard) Heitsman of Hamilton; grandchildren, Christy (Scott) Fryman, Jeff (Sarita) MacRae and Jason (Lacey) MacRae; great-grandchildren, Brooklyn Rose Fryman, Grant William Fryman, Mackenize MacRae and Lindsey MacRae; brother, Jerry Dempsey; sisters, Jo Frasure, Linda Clark and Sandy Valentine; numerous nieces and nephews; and a special friend, Peggy Shannon.
She also was preceded in death a brother, Donald Dempsey.
A memorial service begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, in the Freshwater, McDonald & Vernon Funeral Home, North Lewisburg, where calling begins at 4 p.m. prior to the service.
Graveside services will be held at a later date in Oak Dale Cemetery, Urbana.
Memorial contributions may be made to Urbana Senior Center and PAWS of Champaign County.
Condolences may be made to the family at www.vernonfh.com