Wilma J. (Graham) Priode

       LANCASTER - Wilma Jean Priode, 91, passed away Saturday, October 24, 2020 at Buckeye Care & Rehab, Lancaster.

       Born in Coshocton County August 26, 1929 to the late Lemert & Mollie (Ogle) Graham, formerly of Cooperdale.

       She and her husband Dwight, the absolute love of her life, celebrated 70 years of marriage on November 6, 2018. As young people they found the love of their lives and lived faithfully to each other and their faith. She is survived by her children, Barbara (Bill) Reed of Lancaster, Gary (Donna) Priode of Tipp City, three grandchildren, Jennifer Cox, Greg (Cammi) Priode, Kelsey (Andrew) Patterson, five wonderful great grandchildren Kaylee & Abby Cox, Sawyer & Hayden Patterson, Graham Priode, sister-in-law Eileen Priode, two nieces Carolyn (Robert) Gault and Marilyn Westfall, & two nephews Robert (Helen) Underwood and Robert (Bunny) Larry.

       She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, three sisters, Mildred Graham, Maxine Underwood, & Doris Larry, three brothers-in-law Benjamin Larry, Thoburn Underwood, Thomas Priode, sister-in-law Ruth Priode, niece Clita Priode, & nephew Thomas Priode.

       She graduated from Union School in 1947 & has kept in contact with most of them throughout the years.

       Wilma’s first job was in the office for McCann Oil Company before she was married. Then worked at the Cooperdale Grocery Store. She was a stay-at-home mom while raising her children, Barb & Gary. She retired as a cook at River View Jr. High School in 1994. She was a poll worker during elections and believed in the freedom to vote, & enjoyed visiting with the people in the community. If you were complaining about going to work, she would say that “YOU GET TO GO TO WORK”, cause she knew about planning for the union strikes & was thankful when there was work.

       In 1952, Dwight joined the U.S. Marine Corp. & was stationed in California for several months & Wilma lived on base with him until he was sent to Japan during the Korean conflict. During that time they both made several life-long military friends and they have kept in contact by phone, mail, & email over the years. Friendship was very important to her & she was willing to take the initiative to keep in touch.

       After the death of her mother who was a National Weather Service Observer for 7 years, Wilma started recording all the weather happenings for the Cooperdale Community for the National Weather Service as part of its Cooperative Observing Program in 1954 from their backyard. She recorded daily weather helping in the issuance of forecasts, watches & warnings for 45 years for the National Weather Service & received awards for her service.

       She was a life time member of the Cooperdale Nazarene Church, where she tirelessly gave of her time and talents serving as Treasurer, pianist, Sunday school teacher, church board member, director of VBS, and loyal generous supporter. She was also a Coshocton Public Library volunteer for several years. She enjoyed flowers and baking, but her true love was family, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends & neighbors whose visits and phone calls always delighted her.

       Wilma lived in Cooperdale for 85 years then moved with her husband to Primrose in September 2014 to be close to friends, then in 2017 moved to Bickford Assisted Living in Lancaster to be closer to family. In 2019, after her husband had passed, she fell & broke her right arm which never healed & needed more care, so she moved to Buckeye Care & Rehab. in Lancaster for long term care.

       She enjoyed traveling, even if there was no particular place to go. She just liked to go, even for a slow Sunday joy ride & getting lost or enjoying the scenery, but visiting someone was very special for her too.

       She joined Weight Watchers & earned a gold key in 1985 & maintained a healthy weight (which was very important to her) & did not miss a monthly weigh in, because you had to pay a fine, & that money was going to stay in her pocket! She & Dwight would go for a 2 mile walk, 6 days a week, after working all day, to keep active. They both believed the Doctor when he said, you’ve got to keep moving.

       Her journals, which she kept diligently starting 1/1/1986 includes details of the day with no negative remarks against people.

       Her Great Grandchildren affectionately called her GG. (Great Grandma)

       She enjoyed playing the piano, taking care of flowers, sewing, quilting, & baking. She was well known for giving Sourdough Bread to everyone who would visit or take bread when she went visiting others. She taught her granddaughter, Jennifer & great granddaughters, Kaylee & Abby how to make the delicious bread & they continue to make it for others continuing the tradition. Wilma shared the recipe & starter with many friends & neighbors too.

       If the church doors were open, she would be there. A couple times when the snow was deep and the roads were not plowed, she was the first to say, it’s time for church. A couple times our family & the preacher were the only ones who showed up. Sunday morning & evening services, Wednesday night prayer meeting, Revivals, & other church activities were the highest priority.

       God must have needed a “sourdough bread, cookie, pie & cake baker, a pianist, gardener, & a seamstress” in heaven.

       The family would like to thank Dr. Harvey, Dr. Kimberly, and Dr. Hampton, for their expert care. Special thanks to the nurses, aides, & staff at Primrose of Zanesville, Bickford Assisted Living & Memory Care of Lancaster, and Buckeye Care & Rehab in Lancaster, for being extraordinarily compassionate, supportive, caring, and encouraging while she resided there. A special Thank you for the additional superior care she received from the Hospice of Central Ohio team for their compassion, support, & communication.

       Pastor Rick Mason will officiate a private graveside service at Valley View Cemetery, Warsaw, as she is laid to rest next to her beloved husband. Fischer Funeral Home in Warsaw is handling arrangements.

       In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Wilma’s memory to the Cooperdale Church of the Nazarene, 17816 SR60, Dresden, OH 43821 and Hospice of Central Ohio, 1585 East Main Street, Lancaster, OH 43130.

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