Wilma F. Vanover's Obituary
SAN DIEGO—Wilma
Frieda Corzine-Vanover,
the loving wife of
deceased husband
Elden E. Vanover (Van),
passed away on Tuesday,
February 11, 2020, at the
age of 104.
Wilma was born on July
15, 1915, in the modest
farm town of Garfield,
Kansas. Garfield was a
rural town populated
by barely more than
300 people with wide,
open prairie land that
lay beneath vast azure
skies. Wilma was one of
four sisters, all of whom
spent much if their time
helping out on the family
farm. When Wilma wasn’t
working on the farmor
helping out at home, she
delighted in taking part
in activities at her local
church. Life on the farm
was challenging. Homes
were heatedwith wood
or coal and lit by kerosene
lamps and there was no
indoor plumbing. Wilma
was once interviewed
and asked, “What was the
most exciting invention
design that had the most
impact on your life?”
According to Wilma, the
invention of the electric
lamp changed everything.
She marveled at the
convenience of lighting a
room withamere switch.
In May 1934, Wilma
proudly received her
teaching credential and
began an extensive
41-year career teaching
English and Mathematics
to 4th and 6th graders in
Garden City, Kansas. Later,
in 1936, Wilma received a
Bachelor of Science and
Education from Fort Hayes
Kansas State College.
Wilma met her husband
Van in Decatur, Kansas.
Friends arranged their
initial meeting and
according to Wilma, Van
“was a good clean person.”
They were married on
March 14, 1944, when
she was 29 years old in
Garden City, Kansas.
Wilma’s hobbies
included crocheting,
needlepoint, and crossstitch.
She cherished
her time square dancing
with her belovedVan.
The two could often be
found dancing at square
dance clubs throughout
California.
TheVanovers moved to
California in the late 1940s
and eventually settled
in San Diego. Wilma
continued to followher
passion for teaching and
taught at Muir Elementary
for many years.
Wilma and Van invested
in apartment buildings
throughout San Diego
and were one of the
original owners of the
450-unit Park Haven
Apartments in San Ysidro,
California.
The couple traveled the
world, visiting Europe on
many occasions. Wilma’s
husband, Van, passed
away in 2004 but Wilma
continued to live a robust
life. At her 100th birthday
party, attended by over
50 friends and family from
across the country, Wilma
sensationally arrived
in a“stretch limousine,”
making her mark as the
belle of the ball! She
celebrated her day as she
lived her life, with passion
and spirit.
Wilma was preceded
in death by her husband
Elden (Van) who passed
away in 2004. She was
also preceded by her
sisters MaeMeckfessel,
Maude Cooley, Mary
Wilhelm, sister-in-law
Dorothy Rowe and
nephew Charles
Meckfessel. She is
survived by nieces Mary
Anne Meckfessel, Eldon
Meckfessel, Phyllis Foster,
Sheryl Goodman, Jack
Cooley, Joanne Smith,
Carol Jones and Gary
Wilhelm. She is also
survived by longtime care
providers Gloria Cepeda,
Hatti Orozco, and Eddie
Flores. Other friends and
business partners include
Maurice Correia, Pat
Diedrich, and Kevin Walsh.
A funeral service will
be held at Greenwood
Memorial Park&Mortuary
on Friday, February 21,
2020 at 10:AM. In lieu
of flowers she would
have liked her friends to
make a contribution to
the Ronald McDonald
Children’s Charities of San
Diego.
What’s your fondest memory of Wilma?
What’s a lesson you learned from Wilma?
Share a story where Wilma's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Wilma you’ll never forget.
How did Wilma make you smile?
