Wilma was born October 11, 1937, to Bud B. and Eula (Newton) McGowne, at home, in Marion Cty, Arkansas. An only child, Wilma spent her youth playing with her several dozen first cousins. She was a farmer-girl who loved her horse, dog and many, many cats. Wilma and her mother, Eula, managed the family farm for two years in the 1940's, while her father served during WWII.
In 1953, the McGowne's moved to Coos Bay, Oregon. Wilma returned to her beloved Ozark Mountains for a short time in 1955 to play basketball and graduate with her childhood friends from Flippin High School. A 6' tall Ozark beauty, Wilma was offered a college basketball scholarship, but instead accompanied her mother back to Oregon.
Wilma married N. Richard Luke, of North Bend, in 1957, and dedicated her life to making a home and family. The Luke's moved to Reedsport, Oregon in 1969 where all four kids would graduate from high school. These years were spent sewing clothes and costumes, decorating for events, watching sports, attending school plays and concerts, and all the cooking and cleaning that comes from a household of six. In addition there was always one or two more at the table; someone needing a haircut, flowers for a wedding or a problem solved. Wilma was smart, talented and very artistic. She taught herself the skill of furniture upholstery and ran a successful back-room business for many years.
Wilma and Richard lost their son and his wife in May of 1985 when the small aircraft he was piloting went down in bad weather. It was five long years before the wreckage was found, a tragedy that took a great toll. Wilma and Richard divorced in 1990, and Wilma attempted to reconstruct her life by going to college for the first time. She enjoyed both the academic challenge and the social aspect. She also loved her role of Grandma, with a new grandchild arriving every few years.
In 1995, at age 57, Wilma was diagnosed with primary brain cancer and passed away on September 13. She was preceded in death by her son, Lt. Matthew Mark Luke, USAF and his wife Ann, her mother, Eula McGowne, and her ex-husband, Richard. She was survived by her two daughters, youngest son, and five grandchildren.
Following her father's funeral in 2005, Wilma's ashes were scattered over the grave sites of her son and parents,as had been her request.
In 1953, the McGowne's moved to Coos Bay, Oregon. Wilma returned to her beloved Ozark Mountains for a short time in 1955 to play basketball and graduate with her childhood friends from Flippin High School. A 6' tall Ozark beauty, Wilma was offered a college basketball scholarship, but instead accompanied her mother back to Oregon.
Wilma married N. Richard Luke, of North Bend, in 1957, and dedicated her life to making a home and family. The Luke's moved to Reedsport, Oregon in 1969 where all four kids would graduate from high school. These years were spent sewing clothes and costumes, decorating for events, watching sports, attending school plays and concerts, and all the cooking and cleaning that comes from a household of six. In addition there was always one or two more at the table; someone needing a haircut, flowers for a wedding or a problem solved. Wilma was smart, talented and very artistic. She taught herself the skill of furniture upholstery and ran a successful back-room business for many years.
Wilma and Richard lost their son and his wife in May of 1985 when the small aircraft he was piloting went down in bad weather. It was five long years before the wreckage was found, a tragedy that took a great toll. Wilma and Richard divorced in 1990, and Wilma attempted to reconstruct her life by going to college for the first time. She enjoyed both the academic challenge and the social aspect. She also loved her role of Grandma, with a new grandchild arriving every few years.
In 1995, at age 57, Wilma was diagnosed with primary brain cancer and passed away on September 13. She was preceded in death by her son, Lt. Matthew Mark Luke, USAF and his wife Ann, her mother, Eula McGowne, and her ex-husband, Richard. She was survived by her two daughters, youngest son, and five grandchildren.
Following her father's funeral in 2005, Wilma's ashes were scattered over the grave sites of her son and parents,as had been her request.
Wilma was born October 11, 1937, to Bud B. and Eula (Newton) McGowne, at home, in Marion Cty, Arkansas. An only child, Wilma spent her youth playing with her several dozen first cousins. She was a farmer-girl who loved her horse, dog and many, many cats. Wilma and her mother, Eula, managed the family farm for two years in the 1940's, while her father served during WWII.
In 1953, the McGowne's moved to Coos Bay, Oregon. Wilma returned to her beloved Ozark Mountains for a short time in 1955 to play basketball and graduate with her childhood friends from Flippin High School. A 6' tall Ozark beauty, Wilma was offered a college basketball scholarship, but instead accompanied her mother back to Oregon.
Wilma married N. Richard Luke, of North Bend, in 1957, and dedicated her life to making a home and family. The Luke's moved to Reedsport, Oregon in 1969 where all four kids would graduate from high school. These years were spent sewing clothes and costumes, decorating for events, watching sports, attending school plays and concerts, and all the cooking and cleaning that comes from a household of six. In addition there was always one or two more at the table; someone needing a haircut, flowers for a wedding or a problem solved. Wilma was smart, talented and very artistic. She taught herself the skill of furniture upholstery and ran a successful back-room business for many years.
Wilma and Richard lost their son and his wife in May of 1985 when the small aircraft he was piloting went down in bad weather. It was five long years before the wreckage was found, a tragedy that took a great toll. Wilma and Richard divorced in 1990, and Wilma attempted to reconstruct her life by going to college for the first time. She enjoyed both the academic challenge and the social aspect. She also loved her role of Grandma, with a new grandchild arriving every few years.
In 1995, at age 57, Wilma was diagnosed with primary brain cancer and passed away on September 13. She was preceded in death by her son, Lt. Matthew Mark Luke, USAF and his wife Ann, her mother, Eula McGowne, and her ex-husband, Richard. She was survived by her two daughters, youngest son, and five grandchildren.
Following her father's funeral in 2005, Wilma's ashes were scattered over the grave sites of her son and parents,as had been her request.
In 1953, the McGowne's moved to Coos Bay, Oregon. Wilma returned to her beloved Ozark Mountains for a short time in 1955 to play basketball and graduate with her childhood friends from Flippin High School. A 6' tall Ozark beauty, Wilma was offered a college basketball scholarship, but instead accompanied her mother back to Oregon.
Wilma married N. Richard Luke, of North Bend, in 1957, and dedicated her life to making a home and family. The Luke's moved to Reedsport, Oregon in 1969 where all four kids would graduate from high school. These years were spent sewing clothes and costumes, decorating for events, watching sports, attending school plays and concerts, and all the cooking and cleaning that comes from a household of six. In addition there was always one or two more at the table; someone needing a haircut, flowers for a wedding or a problem solved. Wilma was smart, talented and very artistic. She taught herself the skill of furniture upholstery and ran a successful back-room business for many years.
Wilma and Richard lost their son and his wife in May of 1985 when the small aircraft he was piloting went down in bad weather. It was five long years before the wreckage was found, a tragedy that took a great toll. Wilma and Richard divorced in 1990, and Wilma attempted to reconstruct her life by going to college for the first time. She enjoyed both the academic challenge and the social aspect. She also loved her role of Grandma, with a new grandchild arriving every few years.
In 1995, at age 57, Wilma was diagnosed with primary brain cancer and passed away on September 13. She was preceded in death by her son, Lt. Matthew Mark Luke, USAF and his wife Ann, her mother, Eula McGowne, and her ex-husband, Richard. She was survived by her two daughters, youngest son, and five grandchildren.
Following her father's funeral in 2005, Wilma's ashes were scattered over the grave sites of her son and parents,as had been her request.
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