Wilma Irene Alden was born July 2, 1927 to Homer J. Alden and Ethel May Lindal Alden, at Vandercook Lake, Summit Township, Jackson County, Michigan. She attended public schools in Jackson, Michigan, and worked in an early television and electronics assembly plant in Jackson.
She married William Stuart in 1947 and from that union had a son and daughter, Danny and Connie. After Mr. Stuart's accidental death, she came to California, met and married Joseph Powell of Fresno.
In this union she excelled as a dedicated and loving mother and wife as well as being involved in activities outside the home. She was an active church worker teaching Sunday School, VBS, girls' and women's groups and church wide activities. She studied Early Childhood Education at Mount San Antonio College, and became director of two different preschools. She then returned to her electronics work, building component parts for defense and aerospace companies. She helped build power supplies for the Hubble Telescope.
Wilma was the 8th great granddaughter of John Alden, the youngest signer of the Mayflower Compact and resident of the Plymouth Colony, of which she was very proud in her earlier years, and was a member of the Mayflower Society.
Upon moving to Atwater in 1988, she continued to be involved in church activities as well as partnering with her husband in a retail/service business in Merced. Upon retirement, she and Joseph focused their time and attention to service to their church.
Wilma suffered long-term disability related to common dementia and spent her final months in the care of Hinds Hospice. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Virgil Alden, and eldest grandson, Nathaniel Skai Stuart.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, May 15, 2014 at First Baptist Church, 7264 W. Myrtle Avenue in Winton. The burial will follow at Winton District Cemetery in Winton.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hinds Hospice of Merced, or First Baptist Church of Winton.
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