Former resident Wilma Solomon, 95, Williamsburg, Va., died Sunday, July 17, 2011. She was born Jan. 27, 1916 in the Vilas community, the daughter of Arthur and Olga Carlson. She attended Wilson County schools and graduated from Buffalo High School in 1934. She received her teaching certificate from Pittsburg State Teacher’s College and taught six years in rural schools in Wilson County.

On May 4, 1941, she married Arthur Solomon of Rose. During their marriage, they farmed, raised commercial and registered beef cattle, and trained mules, while Arthur pursued his career as manager of Production Credit Associations in Chanute, Greensburg, and Howard.

During their active years, they lived in several Kansas communities including Humboldt, Benedict, Madison, Caney and Eureka before retiring in Humboldt in the 1980s. In 2006, she moved to Virginia to be near immediate family.

She was a member of the Center Ridge Church Evangelical United Brethren Church as a child. As an adult, she actively participated in the education and women’s programs at the First Baptist Church in Humboldt, Grant Avenue Baptist Church in Chanute as well as Baptist and United Methodist churches in the other communities. She loved to garden, bake, and make homemade soap. Throughout her life she constantly practiced her spiritual gift of hospitality. Her hospitality was usually extended locally, but she also developed links to people internationally.

She is survived by a son, Les (L.D.) Solomon and his wife, Johanna, Williamsburg, Va.; a daughter, Joyce Miller and her husband, Byron, Glen Ellyn, Ill.; five grandchildren, Shannan Bolinger, Newport News, Va., Alys Crouse, Virginia Beach, Va., Darren and Pieter Miller, Wheaton, Ill., and Derek Miller, Thousand Oaks, Calif.; and 10 great-grandchildren. Additionally, she has been a beloved “Grammie” to many children in the places where she has lived.

Her husband, Arthur Solomon, a daughter, Evelyn Solomon, two brothers, Melvin and Art Carlson, Jr., and two sisters, Opal Erickson and Gladys Spong, died earlier.

A memorial service will be held at the First Baptist Church, Humboldt, on Oct. 9. Memorials may be given to Hospice Care of Kansas or the First Baptist Church of Humboldt.