WILHELM, Elva Virginia

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 06/06/2014 Elva Virginia Wilhelm, 95, of Snowflake died peacefully May 31, 2014 at her home in Snowflake, Arizona. She was born July 31, 1918, in Sandy, Utah, to Alexander Brand and Mary Ethel Park. Elva married Marion Walter Wilhelm at an early age; together they had two daughters Lydia and Nonie and were expecting son Marion when her husband Marion Walter was killed in a explosion in St. Johns in 1942. Elva then married Harvey Gibbons Wilhelm, Marion’s brother, in October 1948. They adopted two nieces: Mary and Betty and had a son, Carroll. She and Harvey had a good life together, welcoming all who came to their home. They celebrated their 65th anniversary Oct. 5, 2013, one month before Harvey passed away at the age of 97. She was a skillful homemaker, passing her talents to her daughters such as sewing, canning, gardening, thriftiness, etc. She is known for her excellent crochet handwork. Elva’s posterity includes 29 grandchildren, 83 great-grandchildren and 24 great-great grandchildren. She is survived by her sons: Marion (Doris) Wilhelm and Carroll Spence (Christine) Wilhelm; daughters: Mary (Charles) Tillotson and Betty (Mike) Johnson. She was preceded in death by her parents, first husband Marion Walter Wilhelm, second husband Harvey Gibbons Wilhelm and daughters Lydia May Wardell and Mary Naomi Johnson (Nonie). Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 7, with a viewing starting at 9 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Main Street chapel in Snowflake. Interment will follow services at 1 p.m. at the St. Johns Cemetery. To leave an online thought or condolences for the Wilhelm family, visit Silvercreekmortuary.net. Silver Creek Mortuary of Taylor handled arrangements.