Wilma is the daughter of James David and Stella E Logan Todd of Woodbury, Tennessee. Wilma was born in a tent in Roll, Arizona on February 11, 1930. She passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on August 11, 2023, at the exact age of 93 and 6 months old. Her family moved from Tennessee to Arizona to find better work. Her dad worked on the railroad while her mother, Momma Todd cooked for all the Indians. As time went on, Momma Todd had gotten tired of cooking, so the family moved back to Tennessee.
In 1943, Wilma’s father passed, leaving Momma Todd and three children at home. At the young age of 13 Wilma went to work to help support her family. In 1947 at the age of 17, she and her family moved to Plano, Texas to be with her older brothers. During that time, she had begun working at Harrington’s Drug Store in downtown Plano. It was there that she met a young man named Bob Alderson, who would come in on Sundays for a coke float. They started “going steady” and were married shortly after on April 27, 1950.
Bob and Wilma had 5 children, David Ray born on March 17, 1951, Robert Anthony (Tony) born on July 22, 1952, Patrick Lee on March 14, 1954, Pamelia Gaye on December 11, 1958, and Virginia Gail on March 11, 1968. In 1959 the family moved from Plano, Texas to McKinney, Texas where they had a Shetland pony farm. If that wasn’t enough with five kids and a herd of horses, Wilma decided to open a donut shop. This gave their kids and their friends a place to work and hang out. She made many birthday and wedding cakes, specialty cookies, cakes, and pies. After her donut shop days, she began working in the cafeteria for Princeton Public Schools.
In 2003, Bob & Wilma moved to a farm on Sugarloaf Mtn Rd in Caddo, Oklahoma. They had a beautiful house on the hill where they not only had the most gorgeous view, but welcomed and shared their home with everyone. We always called their house “Nut Hill” …if you have ever visited you would understand the name. Bob & Wilma always had family gatherings, church fellowships and always a good game of dominoes going on. Wilma was certainly the queen of hospitality!
Wilma is preceded in death by her husband of 67 years Bob, her oldest son David Ray, her youngest daughter Virgina Gail, grandbaby Joyce LeSha, her parents James and Stella Todd, brothers Clyde and wife Doyce Todd, Barkley and wife Verna Todd, Hudson (Red) and wife Jean Todd, Carl and wife Obie Todd and sister Vera Todd.
She is survived by her sister Betty Ruth, her children, Tony and wife Karen Alderson, Pat and wife Debbie Alderson, & Pam and husband Gary Owen. She had eleven grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren and one great-great grandbaby.
Wilma was a former member of Hillcrest Christian Church and Wesley Methodist Church of McKinney, Texas, and a member of Trinity Life Church in Kenefic, Oklahoma. Wilma lived a blessed, full, and loving life. Jesus was the center of her life and then her family. She welcomed and loved everyone. She had a servant’s heart and was compassionate and loving to all who entered her life. She was truly everyone’s “Granny A.”
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, August 19, 2023, at Hillcrest Christian Church, 509 South Graves Street, McKinney, Texas 75069. The family will receive friends during a visitation from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the church, prior to the service.
Memorial donations can be made to: Hillcrest Christian Church, 509 South Graves Street, McKinney, Texas 75069 or Trinity Life, 12421 South Folsom Road, Coleman, Oklahoma 73432.