Wilma May Wark

Wilma Wark (nee Ballew) 88, of Carol Stream, formerly of Glen Ellyn, passed away on June 8, 2019.

Born May 28, 1931, in Ava, Missouri, she was the daughter of Ray and Georgia Ballew. Wilma grew up on a farm with 3 sisters.  Wilma graduated with an education degree from Southwest Baptist University.  Wilma taught school in Missouri in a one room school house and then in Kansas.   While in Kansas, she met her one true love, Joe Wark.  They were married in less than 6 months, June 13, 1954. 

With Joe’s sales career with the Santa Fe Railroad, Wilma and Joe were moving every 2 years.  She “bloomed where she was planted” (10 times), established a warm home, loved neighbors, and cooked for all.  In 1976, Wilma and Joe moved to Glen Ellyn.  Over the years, she had been active in leadership roles in the Woman’s Club, JK chapter of PEO, Reliquarians, and of course her First Presbyterian Church, as Elder and her loved circle.

Wilma had mastered the skill of cooking and entertaining.   But her best trait was her love of Jesus and how she shared that with her gift of listening, understanding, and supporting you in whatever crisis there might be.  She loved everyone and made everyone feel welcome.  She and Joe were able to travel the world with friends.

Wilma was preceded in death by her son, Stephen Ray, and sisters Thelma and Norma.  She is survived by her husband, Joe, son Kenneth Howard (Laura), daughter, Melisa Jane (Steve Knez), grandsons Joseph Andrew Wark, Jackson Ray Knez, and Henry Stephen Knez, and many nieces and nephews.   We will miss her deeply.

Visitation will be Friday at 10:30am, followed by the funeral at 12:30pm at the First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn, 550 N Main St, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, or the Morton Arboretum.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Wilma May Wark, please visit our floral store.