Wilma Ruth (Hopkins) Wynia

Wilma Ruth Wynia, 86, of Nampa, died January 5, 2020. A memorial service to honor and celebrate her life will be held at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, January 18, 2020 at the Sunny Ridge Retirement Center/Genesis, 2609 Sunnyridge Dr., Nampa. Arrangements are under the direction of the Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen Chapel where an online guest book is available at www.nampafuneralhome.com

Wilma Ruth Holly Wynia was born at home on July 18th, 1933 to Silas & Ollie Hopkins in Kuna, Idaho. She was the youngest of 6 children, with a sister, Elmo, who passed away at 13 months of age from pneumonia. Her father was a farmer at the time of her birth, and later a barber, and her mother later became a school teacher. They raised and preserved all of their own food, including chickens, hogs and about a dozen cows. Their cows' milk was sent to the Caldwell creamery, and got their butter, in return, from the same milk truck that daily picked up the milk.

At age 3, she contracted polio, and it took some time to regain her strength to be able to walk without falling. She attended school in Kuna for 4 1/2 years, with her first schoolbus being a sheep wagon! Her dad sold the farm, and they moved to Nampa where she attended Roosevelt Grade School through 6th grade. They moved to Portland for 2 years, where her dad went back to Barber School to renew his license, and she attended Grout Grade School. She said those were her most rebellious years, though it's hard to imagine that she really did anything bad! They moved back to Kuna, and her parents bought back the old farm. She attended Kuna High School her Freshmen and Sophmore years. Her dad had served in WW1, and had been gassed with mustard gas. He was suffering some of the effects from that, so they sold the farm, again, and back to Nampa they went. After much pleading, her parents let her attend College High on the NNC Campus her Junior and Senior years. 

One night, at a special church function in Kuna, one of her friends brought some of their friends from College High, and that was when she first met Doug Holly. She wasn't initially impressed,as she said she was being "kind of a pain" at that time. When they moved back to Nampa, her dad had bought a little family type grocery store, and they lived in an apartment in the back. At some point, Doug's parents, who had just moved to Nampa from Michigan, came to look at possibly buying the grocery store, and, of course, Doug came with them! He had a friend with him, and he told his friend that he was going to marry that girl. Wilma was STILL not impressed. A short time later, she attended a wedding that Doug was also attending, and he asked if he could walk her home. That's where she says the love story of her life all began, but we know it really began with her first "rejection" of him! What is meant to be will be. After lots of walks to and from school, they were married on March 16, 1951 in the Franklin Road Church of the Nazarene in Nampa, Idaho. They lived in a little house on Maple St., and she graduated later that spring.

In August, several of their friends, including Doug's parents, moved Seward, Alaska to work. Doug worked for the Railroad, and Wilma for Werner's Grocery, living right on the main boat dock. Shortly after, they got pregnant with their first daughter, and she had to quit the grocery store, as morning sickness and working around food proved to be incompatible.  She moved back to Nampa around the end of June, and Doug stayed behind for awhile. He wanted to be there a year in order to get his big game hunting license, but gave it up early to be reunited with his new bride. Debra Sue was born on September 20, 1952. Their second daughter, Ruth Ann, was born on August 28th, 1954. Doug served 2 years in the Navy, with a move to San Diego, CA and then Bremerton, Washington where they made great, lasting friendships. Back to Nampa they went, where they got pregnant with their 3rd child, a son. Douglas Eugene was born July 8, 1960. 

On September 4, 1967, they lost Doug to a heart attack while he was putting new shingles on the roof following a hail storm. God had been preparing her for the support of her family, as she'd attended classes at a secretarial school in Meridian at night following his first heart attack. She went to work in 1964 for Mangum Clinic for 2 years, then onto the Medical Center Physicians where she retired in 1995. She worked for a short time on a temporary, part time basis for Idaho Physical Therapy. She then worked at Alsip Funeral Chapel with John Yraguen and John Van Manen, dear friends and directors of Nampa Funeral Home, both of whom have been such a great support and source of comfort. 

Wilma met William Wynia in 1969 during her employment at the Medical Center. He had 4 children of his own from a previous marriage, and they joined their families on August 11, 1969. She and her 3 children moved to his farm in Kuna, and resided there until about 1976, at which time they moved back to Nampa. Those years weren't always easy, but they were given 44 years and lots of grand and great grandchildren together, until Bill passed away in 2012. She was also blessed with 2 great-great grandchildren. Her grandkids brought her a special joy in life. 

She had been living independently at Sunnyridge in Nampa, and loved it there. She felt safe, and had many friends, both old and new. Some of her friends there knew Doug before she did!  She knew so many as she'd been a lifelong member of the community and Franklin Road / Karcher Nazarene Church.

She was a faithful and loving servant, and went to be with the Lord on Sunday, January 5, 2020, at peace with what was to come, and surrounded by family.  As we said our goodbyes, Angels were saying their hellos. She's in the presence of the Almighty, free from earthly pain and strife, and watching over her loved ones. 

Until we meet again.
 

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