Wilma I. Ellison
August 4, 1939 - February 17, 2023
Wilma I. Ellison, 83 of Brazil, passed away unexpectedly, February 17, 2023 at the St. Vincent Clay Hospital emergency room.
She was born August 4, 1939, in Bowling Green, the daughter of Irvin Clingerman and Gwendolyn Henson Clingerman. She graduated from Bowling Green High School and began her working career. She held the position of billing clerk at Levin Bros. Wholesale House and later for Recipe Foods, Inc. from 1957-1962. She was a clerk at Hillman Jewelers in Terre Haute also. She then went on to the general offices and insurance office at the Clay County Hospital, 1963-1970. She began at the Clay County Health Center in the general office in 1970 and then in 1972 Wilma became the administrator of the Health Center. She retired from this position in 2003.
During her working years, Wilma also participated in several groups, including serving as a board member of the Clay County Mental Health Association; member of Indiana Healthcare Association; Business and Professional Women’s Group; Order of the Eastern Star; Women of the Moose and Daughters of the Nile and the Auxiliary of the American Legion, Post #2. She was given the Key to the City in 1990, by Norval Pickett. She received the Focus Award in 1995 in the Professional Category and was in the Who’s Who of Business Leaders in 1979-1980. She was proud of her accomplishments made in her career. Wilma was united in marriage to Carrol John “Smoke” Ellison on June 27, 1964. They were members of the Community Missionary Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Lewis Clingerman as an infant; one sister, Dorothy Adams; one nephew, Danny Clingerman and her dear husband, John “Smoke” Ellison, July 22, 2018.
Survivors include their children Allen Fitch (Laurie), Darren Fitch (Donna) Kevin Fitch (Sissy), and Carol Vanatti (Tom); grandchildren, Jennifer Miller (Brian), Justin Fitch, Jason Fitch (Jennifer), Josh Fitch (Malinda), Kelsey Hayne (Bart), Kourtney Fitch (Troy Pierce), Jonathan Vanatti (Sara), Mindy Vanatti (Doug Porter), Amanda Sparks; great-grandchildren, Kylie and Kambree Vanatti, Ethan, Kaitlyn, Erin, Raegan and Riley Fitch, Lucy Hayne, Kaisley Pierce, Lyli and Tobias Bowersock; brother and sister in law, Dean and Debby Clingerman and other extended family members.
Services will be held Wednesday at 11:00am at the Lawson-Miller Chapel with burial to follow at Calcutta Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday from 4-8 and again Wednesday one hour prior to services. In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to the Community Missionary Church, Rice for Haiti, 21 W. Pinckley St. Brazil, IN. 48834. Post a note of condolence at www.lawson-millerchapel.com
