Wilma V. Nash, youngest child and only daughter of William & Hazel Iva Ayers, was born February 20, 1922 in Central City, Nebraska.  She passed away July 5, 2019 at the Colonial Villa in Alma, NE at the age of 97.

Wilma grew up with an older brother, Virgil, their family living in Nebraska and later moving to Phillips County, Kansas.

She married Marven D. Nash on September 9, 1937 at the Methodist Church in Phillipsburg, KS.  Marven & Wilma made their home near Long Island, KS, where they farmed.  They had two children, Twila and Billie Burt Nash.

Wilma started the Long Island school system's hot lunch program in 1950 in the old Home Economics room until the new cafeteria was built.  She continued as the dietitian and head cook throughout the consolidation of the Long Island and Almena School districts. All total, she cooked for 30 years and fed hundreds of children for the USD #212 school district.

After her retirement from the school Wilma cooked a hot meal every day for the hired men, sometimes baking as many as three pies a day!  And of course, during harvest, there were many meals prepared to take to the fields.  During this time, she also went to work at the Colonial Villa in Alma, NE.

After many years of working at the Villa, Wilma retired and became a volunteer there, playing cards with the older residents as well as helping with other activities.  Later she enjoyed meals and social activities at the Alma Senior Center, where she played cards and visited with friends.

Wilma loved her family and especially enjoyed cooking for them. Each of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren had their own favorite pie flavor, either a fruit pie or a cream pie, which was baked for them on birthdays or special occasions.

Wilma was preceded in death by her parents; son, Billie; husband, Marven; and brother, Virgil.

Survivors include her daughter, Twila Ingram & husband, Gordon, of Almena, KS; grandchildren, Craig Ingram & wife, Genie, and Deanna Isabell & husband, Gary; along with four great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 11, 2019 in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with Pastor Jim Bendorf officiating.  Burial will follow in the Long Island Cemetery, Long Island, KS.

Mrs. Nash will lie in state from noon until 9 p.m. Tuesday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with family receiving friends Wednesday evening from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Northern Valley Schools.