LANCASTER, Mo. -- Wilma (Groseclose) Rector, 99 of Springfield, Mo., passed away Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 at The Fremont Senior Living in Springfield.
Wilma was born at her parents' home in Downing, Mo. to Joseph Lee and Isabelle Margaret (Ballanger) Groseclose Jan. 18, 1918. A lifelong teacher, Wilma graduated from the Kirksville Missouri State Teacher's College (Truman University) and received her Masters of Education from Southwest Missouri State (Missouri State). After teaching at several different school districts in Missouri, Wilma spent the majority of her teaching career in the Poplar Bluff School District where she taught second grade and remedial reading. She was recognized as Teacher of the Year in Poplar Bluff in l982. Later on in her career, Wilma devoted her spare time to teaching in the Adult Education Program for the Poplar Bluff School District. She was a member of the Missouri Teachers Association, the National Education Association and a member of the Poplar Bluff First Christian Church.
She is survived by her three daughters and two sons-in-law: Sandra and Richard Shearer, Pamala Chernik and Janice and Gregory Leyh. She is survived by her grandchildren: Lee and Julie Shearer, Jennifer and Michael Novello, Christina and Michael Knievel, Nicholas Leyh, Anthony and Rossella Leyh and Rachel Leyh. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren: Sydney Shearer, Brooke Shearer, Lauren Novello, Karina Novello, Maxwell Knievel and Bennett Knievel.
Wilma is preceded in death by mother and father, Joseph and Isabelle Groseclose; her three sisters, Anna Sorrell, Blanche Moler and Evalou Smith; one brother, Roy Groseclose and one son-in-law, Harry Chernik.
Visitation was held one hour prior to the funeral services from 1 until 2 p.m. at the Norman Funeral Home in Lancaster, Mo. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017 at the Norman Funeral Home in Lancaster, Mo. with Billy Wallace, Pastor of the Lancaster Christian Church of Lancaster, Missouri officiating. "Amazing Grace" and "In The Garden" are special CD selections for the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for the Webster Cemetery and may be mailed to Norman Funeral Home, 402 W. Washington, Lancaster, MO 63548. Burial will be in the Webster Cemetery, southeast of Lancaster, Missouri. Online condolences may be expressed to the family by logging on to normanfh.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Norman Funeral Home in Lancaster, Mo.
Paid