Wanda Elaine Dilli's Obituary
Wanda Elaine (Cummins) Juaire Dilli, age 86, of Howard, Kansas passed away Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at Mercy Hospital in Independence, Kansas. She was born on October 10, 1923 on a farm east of Howard, Kansas to Arthur W. and Margarette (Corbin) Cummins. She attended school and grew to womanhood in Howard and graduated from Howard High School in May of 1942. After graduation, she moved to Wichita, Kansas where she became one of the first female city bus drivers during World War II.
In 1951, she returned to Howard with her five children two sons Frenchie and Jerry and three daughters Pat, Connie and Rita and was employed by Southwestern Bell for several years and also worked at Vick’s Western Store in Howard. Wanda devoted her life to raising her children and making a home for her family.
On December 20, 1954 she married Raymond Carl “Butch†Dilli at Howard and to this union was born a son, Rick. In the late 1960’s, Wanda and Butch began working for the Elk County Ambulance Service and served many years as co-directors. They later became Emergency Medical Technicians and retired from the ambulance service in 1993. Butch preceded her in death on June 2, 2000.
She provided CPR instruction for over 10 years and was Chairwoman of the Elk County Chapter of the American Red Cross for several years. Wanda was involved with managing the Old Settlers Day celebration’s which was held at Howard and sang with her mother in a group known as the Merry Music Makers.
Wanda performed volunteer work to help organize construction of the Howard Swimming Pool during the late 1960’s. Her membership to local organizations included the American Legion Auxiliary where she served as chapter president, and Loyal Lima’s EHU. Wanda was a long time member of the First Christian Church of Howard.
She is survived by her sons Rick Dilli of Independence and Frenchie Juaire of Howard; her daughters, Pat Unrein of Wichita, Connie Hafner of Independence and Rita Hill of Wichita; her sister Treva Beaty of San Angelo, Texas; 17 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Butch, her parents, a son Jerry Juaire and a grandson Billy Joe Juaire.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, April 3, 2010 at Zimmerman Funeral Home with Pastor Robin Haines officiating. Visitation will be held Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be held at the Grace Lawn Cemetery. Family suggests contributions to either American Legion Ladies Auxiliary or the Elk County EMS and be left with the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.countrysidefh.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Zimmerman Funeral Home Howard, Kansas. 620-374-2381.
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