Wilma Caroline (Hollkamp) Smith

Wilma Caroline (Hollkamp) Smith, 89, of Memphis, Indiana passed away peacefully on Monday, June 3, 2024 at her daughter’s house, surrounded by family. Wilma was a lifelong parishioner of St. John Paul II Catholic Church (St. Joseph Hill Campus) in Sellersburg, Indiana. She retired from General Electric - Appliance Park after 30+ years. She loved helping people so much that she later went to work at the Jeffersonville Meijer until she was 81 years old. Wilma was an avid shopper and a wonderful cook. She loved collecting cookbooks and had her own favorite recipes, which she would use to make delicious meals and desserts for her family throughout her life. She loved taking care of her roses and always had a large tomato garden each year, which she would share with her family, friends and neighbors.

She married the love of her life, George, in 1956 and provided a loving home for him and her three children. She was blessed with four grandchildren and was known as “Grandma Wilma” to her seven great-grandsons. She was happiest when surrounded by her family. Wilma strongly believed in God and miracles, having held great faith in the power of God and St. Jude. She supported the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for many years.

Wilma was born on April 19, 1935 in Floyds Knobs, Indiana to the late George and Anna (Kirchgessner) Hollkamp. In addition to her parents she is preceded in death by her husband George; daughter JoAnn Smith; her sister Norma Hollkamp; brothers Herb, George “Pat”, and Eugene Hollkamp, and sister-in-law Mary Hollkamp.

Wilma is survived by daughters, June (Michael) Kruer and Jane Smith-Lamb; son, Jude (Morena) Smith; sisters, Phyllis (Bob) Burkholder; Elizabeth Williams; sisters-in-law, Suzann and Ivy Hollkamp; grandchildren, Michelle (Doug) McCrocklin, John Kruer, JoAnn (Jeromy) Rex, and Jackie Smith and great grandchildren, Noah, Jacob, Hudson, Cade, Eli, Mason and Andrew "Andy" George, and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday June 10, and after 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday June, 11 at Newcomer Cremations, Funerals & Receptions (3309 Ballard Lane, New Albany). Her funeral mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 11, at St. John Paul II (2253 W. St. Joe Road, Sellersburg, Indiana) with burial to follow at St. Joseph Hill Catholic Cemetery in Sellersburg, Indiana.

The family requests that contributions in Wilma’s memory be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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