Obituary for Wilma A. Epler (Smiley)
Wilma Ann (Smiley) Epler of Londonderry Township, PA, died from dementia on May 24, 2023 at the Masonic Villages in Elizabethtown, PA. She was 82. Wilma was born on October 7, 1940 in Harrisburg, PA, and was the daughter of William A. and Mildred (Etter) Smiley.
She was also the foster daughter of J. Raymond and Esther Weaver of Londonderry Township.
She married Jay E. Epler on August 7, 1959 in Jarrettsville, MD. She had two children, Katherine Sharpless and J. Michael Epler, and three grandchildren, Jack Sharpless, Lily Epler, and Evan Sharpless.
She was predeceased by her sister, Lois Jane (Smiley) Hoover, in 2020.
Wilma was a member of Geyers United Methodist Church, supported local foodbanks, and organized CareWear donations to the Hershey Medical Center and others. She loved her garden, watching birds, quilting, baking walnut cakes for funerals, doing crossword puzzles, playing pinochle, and tending to dozens of family cats over the years.
Wilma has donated her remains to the Hershey Medical Center for study.
A memorial service will be held at Geyers Church on Saturday, June 17, 2023 at 11:00 AM. There will be a visitation from 10:00 AM until the time of service.
Burial will be in the Hillsdale Cemetery at a later date.
Donations in her memory may be made to the Hillsdale Cemetery Association, c/o Mike Geyer, 4801 E. Harrisburg Pike, Elizabethtown, PA 17057 or to Geyers Church, 1605 S. Geyers Church Road, Middletown, PA 17057.
The family appreciates the kindness of the Masonic Villages staff, particularly those working on Washington 4, where they cared for Wilma for more than five years.
The family has entrusted the Matinchek Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc. 260 E. Main St. Middletown, PA 17057 with the arrangements.
Condolences can be left online at www.matinchekfuneralhome.com
She was also the foster daughter of J. Raymond and Esther Weaver of Londonderry Township.
She married Jay E. Epler on August 7, 1959 in Jarrettsville, MD. She had two children, Katherine Sharpless and J. Michael Epler, and three grandchildren, Jack Sharpless, Lily Epler, and Evan Sharpless.
She was predeceased by her sister, Lois Jane (Smiley) Hoover, in 2020.
Wilma was a member of Geyers United Methodist Church, supported local foodbanks, and organized CareWear donations to the Hershey Medical Center and others. She loved her garden, watching birds, quilting, baking walnut cakes for funerals, doing crossword puzzles, playing pinochle, and tending to dozens of family cats over the years.
Wilma has donated her remains to the Hershey Medical Center for study.
A memorial service will be held at Geyers Church on Saturday, June 17, 2023 at 11:00 AM. There will be a visitation from 10:00 AM until the time of service.
Burial will be in the Hillsdale Cemetery at a later date.
Donations in her memory may be made to the Hillsdale Cemetery Association, c/o Mike Geyer, 4801 E. Harrisburg Pike, Elizabethtown, PA 17057 or to Geyers Church, 1605 S. Geyers Church Road, Middletown, PA 17057.
The family appreciates the kindness of the Masonic Villages staff, particularly those working on Washington 4, where they cared for Wilma for more than five years.
The family has entrusted the Matinchek Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc. 260 E. Main St. Middletown, PA 17057 with the arrangements.
Condolences can be left online at www.matinchekfuneralhome.com