Wilma was born in Phoenix Arizona on March 20, 1933. She went to be with the Lord on April 7, 2024 in Mesa, Arizona. She is predeceased by her Husband James "Bud" Tipton and youngest Daughter Jill Penrod along with her parents James "Gene" Watson and Elizabeth "Ruth" Watson, and her older sister Elizabeth "Betty" Reid.

She is survived by her younger brother James "Will" Watson and younger sister Dorothy Tedder along with her children Nina Rivera, Jeffrey and Alice Tipton, Roger Penrod and grandchildren Brother Michael James Rivera, Alexandrea Luna, and Alyssa Luna along with many nephews and nieces.

Wilma has been notable for many accomplishments in life especially in music. She started piano at a very young age and it was able to provide her with a scholarship to San Jose State where she would meet her husband Bud, who was a gospel singer from Oklahoma. They were introduced by Wilma's uncle Paul Watson who was in the sheet music business.

Together they started a family and worked very diligently in their professions. Wilma was elevated to the Senior Assistant to the Director of Kaiser Aluminum and Technology. Bud was employed by Lockheed Missiles and Space Co. in Sunnyvale, CA. Work was a priority, but one weekend a month all came to a stop so that an RV weekend could be had with the Restless Wheels Trailer Club. Many friendships and comraderies with fellow campers from all walks of life, insured an eventful and exiting time camping. Potluck dinners on Saturday and a pancake breakfasts on Sunday.

Camping was a big part of the family, with an annual Memorial Day weekend trip at Kings Canyon National Park with her parents Gene and Ruth, starting off the season. They would go to Crater Lake Oregon and meet in Arkansas along with other destinations.

Church was always at the center of the family and her and Buds' singing and playing the piano practices on Tuesday and Thursday nights at home were free concerts for her children. "The Lords Prayer", "I talked to God last Night", "How Great Though Art", and even "Moon River", just for the harmony.

Wilma retired from Kaiser in 1986 and that gave her a lot of free time to pursue Handbells, that would keep her busy for another 20 years+.

In 1993 Wilma and Bud, now retired, teamed up with Jeff to start a little cattle ranch east of Fresno/Clovis. Although she thought having goats would be fun? It was a lot of work and it was time to slow it down, so after many trips to Alaska to visit with their youngest daughter Jill and son in law Roger Penrod, they decided to move to Fairbanks to cool off from the Central Valley heat. She really embraced the whole Alaska thing and let you know that was where she lived.

Wilma was soon by herself as Bud went to be with the Lord that Fall of 2001. Her Daughter Nina moved to Fairbanks, then Jill and Roger moved to Anchorage and Wilma did too. Nina returned to the SF Bay Area to warm up. After Jill went to be with the Lord in 2009, Wilma stayed in the Anchorage area until moving to the Mesa, AZ area in 2017, to be near her Brother Will and his wife Zelpha.

Wilma soon found a new church home and began making many new friends. She was doing really good until falling in January of 2023 and breaking her hip and needing lots of rehab. She moved 7 times in the next 12 months. Her final residence was at Jones Family Care in Mesa who is thanked by her family and friends for taking such good care of her. They were assisted by Hospice of the West. Her family also wishes to thank her Church family for all their support and visits and helping her move all those times.

She will be missed, but is now rejoicing in the presence of the Lord, singing and praising on a journey she has prepared for all her life.

Memorials will take place in Mesa, AZ at Friendship Church 540 S. 80th St. Mesa, AZ 85208 on Saturday April 27 at 11am and next in Sanger, CA at Quail Lake Community Church 3350 N. McCall Ave. Sanger, CA 93657 on Friday May 17th at 12Noon. Internment will follow at Redbank Cemetery at 1:30pm.