Wilma Strickland

Wilma Arlene Strickland, 88, of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, November 18, 2008, at the Heritage House in Atlantic.

Wilma Arlene DeBord, daughter of Arlie Elwood and Dorthea (Davis) DeBord was born November 22, 1919, in Marne, Iowa. As a child, she lived in several places including Burns, Kansas, and Rogers, Arkansas. They also lived in Marne, Anita, and Atlantic, Iowa.
Arlene was baptized on March 22, 1959, at the First Christian Church in Atlantic, Iowa.
On June 1, 1940, she was united in marriage to Allie Richard Strickland in Maryville, Missouri. The Lord blessed this union with three children; Cheryl, Carolyn and Janet. Most of Arlene and Allie's married life was spent farming in the Exira, Atlantic and Wiota areas. She loved being a farmer's wife and assisted Allie on the farm where they raised their children. After retirement, they built a home in Wiota and lived there until Allie's death, at which time Arlene moved into the Heritage House in Atlantic.

Arlene was a very devoted wife, Mom and Grandma. She loved her grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with them. Arlene enjoyed traveling, camping, gardening, canning and cooking for her family. She especially enjoyed spending time with her twin sister, Jean, and enjoyed trips to Framingham, Massachusetts, to visit her.

Those who will always cherish her memory include her daughters, Cheryl Scarf of Atlantic, Iowa, Carolyn Buckingham and her husband, David of Antioch, Illinois, and Janet Madsen and her husband, Robert of Storm Lake, Iowa; her grandchildren, Kim Williams of Exira, Iowa, Allen Scarf and his wife, Melinda of Audubon, Iowa, David Scarf of Omaha, Nebraska, Lynda Stearns and her husband, Mark of Center Harbor, New Hampshire, Melissa Buckingham of Kenosha, Wisconsin, Rhonda Johnson of Norwalk, Iowa, and Kevin Madsen and his wife, Lisa of Muscatine, Iowa; her 11 great-grandchildren; her sister, Jean Anderson of Framingham, Massachusetts; her brother, Wayne DeBord and his wife, Betty of Atlantic, Iowa; her sisters-in-law, Ramona Strickland of Woodward, Iowa, Doris Strickland of Anita, Iowa, and Marjorie Strickland of North Carolina; her brother-in-law, Howard Strickland of North Carolina; numerous nieces and nephews; and other relatives.

Arlene is preceded in death by her parents, Arlie and Dorthea DeBord; her husband, Allie Strickland; her brother, Edward DeBord; her son-in-law, Howard Scarf; her grandson, David Buckingham; her brothers-in-law, Joe, Don, Clarence, Robert and Ralph Strickland; and sisters-in-law, Emma Anderson, Grace Rochholz and Vera Strickland.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, November 21, 2008, in the chapel at Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic with Pastor Dale Kesterson officiating.

Burial will be in the Exira Cemetery in Exira, Iowa.

Visitation will be from 12:00 to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, November 20, 2008, at Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, with the family present to greet friends from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The family of Mrs. Strickland appreciates the many expressions of sympathy and concern. We invite you to meet with the family in the Hockenberry Family Care Community Room following the committal service in Exira.

Condolences may be left at www.hockenberryfamilycare.com.

Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements.