Wilma Jane Garrett

Wilma Jane Garrett, age 91, of Bloomington, Indiana, passed away peacefully at Gentry Park Senior Living on June 21, 2026, She was born on July 9, 1934 in New Albany, Indiana to Charles E. Volz and Lois W. Volz. Growing up on a farm as an only child, she would ride around with her father on his tractor, and she helped load bales of hay. She also learned how to drive a stick shift truck around the farm. Wilma learned woodworking, building small projects and painting them to give them a fine finished look. Her mother taught her sewing, cooking and canning foods in the big farmhouse her father built for them. With her mother’s help, she had her own Victory Garden of vegetables. Along with her mother she would take these garden vegetables to town and share with the less fortunate folks. Wilma met her loving sweetheart and eventual husband, Robert (Bob) Garrett, who was serving in the United States Army. They were married on October 24, 1952, at the Tunnel Hill Christian Church, Edwardsville, Indiana. Her desire to see the World was fulfilled when she had the opportunity to travel in the USA and many foreign countries when she was able to travel with Robert to his duty stations. Her first daughter, Pamla, was born in Germany and her second daughter, Lucinda, was born in Kansas. While they were stationed in Tehran, Iran, Wilma organized a Girl Scout Troop for daughters of US Military soldiers stationed there. When Robert retired from the military after twenty years of service, they established their home in Bloomington. Wilma enjoyed many years of bowling overseas, in leagues in Bloomington and on the traveling team. She was a member of the Friendship Thirteen Club and secretary of it for many years. Among her many hobbies were sewing, painting, woodworking, ceramics, collecting buttons, jewelry making and having garage sales. She expertly sewed dresses for her daughters and created many jewelry items with an IU design. As her husband was working his second career at Indiana University for the next twenty-seven years, she became an enthusiastic supporter of IU basketball. When her husband, Robert, was selected by Coach Bobby Knight to host visiting teams for the Hoosier Classics, she enjoyed serving as his co-host. During her years in Bloomington Wilma maintained her backyard vegetable garden which was her private paradise. Her garden produced more than her family could consume, so friends and neighbors were recipients of all the extra vegetables. Wilma also became known for her garage sales to the extent that folks would stop by to ask her when she was going to have her next garage sale. She was fond of the dogs she had over the years, Pudgy, Tinker, Mindy and Penny. She and her husband enjoyed collecting interesting rocks from different states and foreign countries. Wilma and Bob enjoyed many years of spending time in Florida during winter months. Wilma was preceded in death by her husband of seventy-one years, Robert H. Garrett, her parents, her daughter, Lucinda Lettelleir, and her granddaughter, Amy Pugh. Surviving are her daughter, Pamela (Bill) Fawcett, Robert Lettelleir, surviving spouse of Lucinda, and her grandchildren: Tyler (Brooke) Weddle, Bradley Lettelleir, Stephen Lettelleir; and her four great-grandchildren; Harrison and Matthew Weddle and Zachary and Molly Pugh.The family would like to thank Gentry Park Senior Living, Dr. Brad Bomba, Jr., and Southern Care Hospice for the exceptional care and love that they have shown Wilma. Funeral services were provided by Allen Funeral Home, Bloomington. Wilma is interred with her beloved husband, Robert, at Valhalla Memory Gardens in Bloomington. A Celebration of Life will be scheduled at a later date.

Tributes

Wilma Jane Garrett

July 9, 1934 - June 21, 2026