Wilma L. Snipes

Wilma L. Snipes, 92 of Kempton passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 8, 2023 at her residence with her family at her side.  She was born in Little New York in rural Tipton County on March 5, 1931 to Roma & Velma (Freeman) Straley.  On December 25, 1948 she married Rudy E. Snipes.  The couple enjoyed 56 years of marriage before Rudy’s passing on May 2, 2005.

Wilma enjoyed raising her children at home.  Later she worked for Stokley Van Camp doing some inspections in the fields.  She was also an assistant underwriter for Indiana Farmers Insurance and helped with accounting for a small firm.  Wilma belonged to the Order of Eastern Star in Tipton, later transitioning to the Radiant Chapter OES 200.  She was a member of the Kempton Christian Church where she was a deaconess, Sunday school teacher and prepared and served numerous funeral dinners.  Wilma served on the election board, and was a member of the Lions Club.  She helped her husband with farming, from the animals to driving the equipment, Wilma lent a hand.  She spent a lot of time on the bleachers supporting her children, grandchildren and others at school functions.  Most of all, she loved her husband, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.

Wilma is survived by five children, R. Kent Snipes (Ruth) of Sarasota, Florida, Beverly A. Hall (Greg) of Sharpsville, Gregory E. (Nancy) Snipes of Indianapolis, Joetta C. (Steve) Sprague of Kempton, and Inez C. Snipes of Kempton.  Grandchildren include: Alice (Ed) Baldwin, Erin (Jerimiah) Borkowski, Janet (Bob) Barber, Caroline (Thomas) Radtke, Andreas Lauchstaedt, Lori (Raymond) Byrd, April (Matthew) Deckard, Tracie (Michael) Jessie, Alex (Jill) Snipes, David (Lora) Bisard, Jarrod (Destini) Sherrill, Crystal (Chris) Worthy, Holly (Eric) Fegley, and Stephen (Heather) Sprague.  She has 32 great grandchildren with another on the way, 5 great great grandchildren; and a sibling, Helen (Straley) Agnew of Kokomo and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a grandson, Bart Hall, a great great grandchild Lotus Good along with her siblings, Sam Thorpe, Mary Snow, Inez VanBriggle, Sarah Yeary, Edith Byrd, Carolyn Conaway and Joan Scalf.

Visitation will be Saturday October 14, 2023 from 4:00P.M. until 8:00P.M. at Young-Nichols Funeral Home and on Sunday from 1:00P.M. until 2:00P.M. at the Kempton Christian Church with the funeral beginning at 2:00.  Rev. Larry Sims will preside.  Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery.

Memorial donation may be made to the Kempton Christian Church 707 S West St, Kempton, IN 46049.