Wilma was a loving mother and excellent homemaker.

Funeral services: Kinderhook E.C. Church, 560 Kinderhook Rd. Columbia PA 17512 on Saturday, November 12, 2022 at 11:00 a.m.

There will be no public viewing, however the family will receive friends one hour prior.

Burial will follow in Silver Spring Cemetery.

Wilma J. Brubaker, 99,  formerly of Farmdale,  passed away on November 6, 2022 at Oak Leaf Manor South.  Wilma resided at Oak Leaf South for 15 years.  She was the wife of the late Melvin E. Brubaker who preceded her in death in 1995. They were married for 50 years.  Born in Columbia, she was the daughter of the late Walter and Mable Drescher Forrey.

When she was about 10, her father took her to Lancaster to buy a winter coat. On the way back home, they had to take shelter in a stranger’s house because the snow was so deep and they could not get home.

As a teenager, she helped her grandmother cook for hired farm hands. She and her good friend Elsie Shopf Dietrich spent a lot of time together.  Sometimes they took along her younger sister Millie, but not enough times for Millie who was five years younger. Wilma and her future husband went on dates rolling skating.  She worked at the Wermen Shoe factory in Marietta for several years.  

Wilma was a loving mother and excellent homemaker.  She served supper at 4:20 pm to her husband and made meals at various time for her children.  For a number of weeks, she got up at 4 am to serve a cooked breakfast to her son Don.  

Wilma was a devoted lifelong member of the Kinderhook E.C. Church.   At her passing, she was the oldest member of the church.  She taught Sunday School in her younger days.  She often prayed for her children and grandchildren.  She rarely said a nasty word to those who helped her at Oak Leaf South.

Wilma faced many challenges during her life.  Her neighbor’s seven year old son was killed crossing Marietta Pike and her neighbor was upset with her because Wilma’s five year old son was nearby.   Her sister Evelyn and brother-in-law Dutch were killed in an auto accident.  Two of her children had marriage difficulties.  Her husband Mel died at age 75 of a heart attack. Wilma’s words to live by were “Be kind to one another” and “God is good.”

The family wishes to thank Oak Leaf Manor South for their wonderful care.  The family also wishes to thank Masonic Village Hospice for their compassionate care.

She is survived by her children, Donald E. Brubaker of Mount Joy; Eileen wife of Tom Donaldson, Lititz; JoAnn wife of Patrick Reisinger, Hallam Township; and her sister Millie Forrey, Maryland and her daughter and three daughters.  She is also survived by grandchildren Andrew Brubaker, Jess Hegener wife of Matt Hegener, Peter Brubaker, and Lindsay Carmen wife of Andy Carmen; and great grandchildren Tyler, Serenity, Laila, Vincenzia, Colton, Carleigh, and Josephine; and great great grandchildren Draven, Acacia, and Isabella; numerous nieces, one nephew, a few great nieces and great nephews.  She was preceded in death by her sisters: Evelyn Keller, Vera Forrey, and Virginia Duersmith.

Funeral services will be held at the Kinderhook E.C. Church, 560 Kinderhook Rd. Columbia PA 17512 on Saturday, November 12, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. with the Rev. John Baker and Rev. Thomas Galloway officiating. Burial will follow in Silver Spring Cemetery. There will be no public viewing, however the family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Kinderhook E.C. Church.

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