Wilda Adams

Wilda N. Adams, age 84, of Plainwell, MI passed away Thursday, September 15, 2016 at Rose Arbor Hospice. She began her life on a farm in Dongola, IL on February 10, 1932, the daughter of Harvey and Catherine (Cook) Bourland. Due to her mother's illness at 3 months she went to live with her paternal grandmother and step-grandfather, Arminda and Eli Short. She started first grade at the age of 4 and walked 2 miles to the country school. When she was 12 they moved to a farm between Otsego and Plainwell. Wilda graduated from Otsego High School in 1949. At age 18 she went to work for the Kalamazoo Stove and Furnace Co. in the office as an accounting and payroll clerk and then went to work at Upjohn. She married her high school sweetheart Larry K. Adams in 1951 and they moved to a Navy base at Lakehurst Naval Air Station in Lakehurst, N.J. She worked for the N.J. Natural Gas Co. until their first son was born. Wilda then became a stay at home mom and did not work outside their home until all 4 sons graduated from high school. She then worked as a dental receptionist until she retired in 1984. Wilda was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother who loved being with her children and grandchildren, hosting family get togethers, traveling and the oldies but goodies music of the big band era. She loved doing crafts, sewing, cooking, quilting, decorating cakes, gardening, fishing, reading and helping her husband with the Boy Scouts as a Den Mother. Wilda was always ready to lend a helping hand when needed. Surviving are her sons, Michael (Theresa Swedo) of Chugiak, Alaska, Gary (Christine) of Plainwell, John (Carolyn Harden) of Richland and Mark (Brenda) of Pine Lake; 3 grandchildren, Mark (Shanda) Rouse, Amanda (Doug) Peterson and Kyle Adams; 6 great- grandchildren; her sibling, Joann (Gerald) Dillow and Hubert Bourland and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her dear husband, Larry in 2004, her parents and siblings, Myron, Dean, Willard, Charlie and Bobby Bourland, Loretta Sorensen and Emigene Walters. Friends may visit with Wilda's family starting at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, September 17, 2016 at the Otsego United Methodist Church until the time of the funeral service at 3:00 P.M. with Pastor Joe Shaler officiating. Cremation will follow. Burial of ashes will take place at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta. Contributions in memory of Wilda may be made to Christian Neighbors or the American Diabetes Association. Winkel Funeral Home