Hattie Eliza Wilbur Watson Obituary (1910

Hattie E. Wilbur-Watson, 103, of Surprise, Arizona and formerly of Randalia, Iowa died Thursday, December 12, 2013 at the Greenhouse Hospice Home in Phoenix, Arizona. Funeral Service: 11:00 A.M. Saturday, December 21, 2013 at Floral Hills Funeral Home, rural Oelwein with Rev. Charis Combs-Lay of Zion Lutheran Church officiating. Visitation: 10:00 A.M. to service time at the funeral home on Saturday. Interment: Floral Hill Memorial Gardens, rural Oelwein, Iowa. A Memorial Fund has been established in her name. Hattie Eliza VanSickle was born June 11, 1910 in Maynard, Iowa the daughter of L.H. and Rhoda (Hart) VanSickle. She attended the Randalia High School where she played basketball and won several dramatic speech contests. Hattie graduated in 1928 and that same year married Eugene Wilbur with whom she raised four children. Hattie was a member of the Faith Lutheran Church in Fayette, Iowa. She played the organ for 20 years. She worked as a telephone operator while raising her family and assistant librarian for 10 years at Upper Iowa University. Hattie and Gene retired to Theodosia, Missouri and were charter members of the Lutheran church in Isabella, Missouri. They were married 57 years when Gene passed away. She later married Kenneth Watson and lived in Protem, Missouri for 13 years. Hattie lived in Surprise, Arizona for 10 years and attended Crown of Life Lutheran Church until her 103rd Birthday when she fell and her health declined from that time. Hattie is survived by her 4 children, Ardath Loreen Borland Wilbur of Sun City West, Arizona, Leslie Eugene (Carolyn) Wilbur of Sun City West, Arizona, Kenneth Lee (Doris) Wilbur of Abilene, Texas and Dennis Dean (Melodye) Wilbur of Olathe, Kansas; 10 grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren; 20 great-great grandchildren; and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; 2 husbands; and 9 sisters and brothers.