Wilma Jean (Arnold, Phares) Schwemmer

Wilma Jean (Arnold, Phares) Schwemmer, loving wife, mother and grandmother, went to join her Lord and Savior at her Wichita residence on November 24, 2024. She was 94. She was born on March 27, 1930 in Wichita, Kansas to Ross and Marguerite (Hensley) Arnold.  On June 15, 1947, she married Eldon Phares at the Palmyra Baptist Church in rural Benton. They were married for 41 years until his unexpected death on January 29, 1989. To this union, they were blessed with a son and three daughters.  She then married Clarence G. "Gib" Schwemmer on October 29, 2001 at McConnell Air Force Base, Wichita Kansas. He survives. With this union she gained a son, daughter, and three grandchildren.

Wilma was a very devoted mother and grandmother to her family. She had a deep faith in the Lord that she leaned on through life's trials and was a member of the Palmyra Baptist Church for 76 years where she taught Sunday School for the Sunbeams and worked in the kitchen for many of those years.  She was an excellent cook and made wonderful homemade meals, many fun family dinners will be remembered at her home. She was always punctual and very well organized. Her wonderful organizational skills helped in making her the avid seamstress that she was. She sewed many clothes and special dresses for her children and grandchildren. She also loved collecting Precious Moments figurines, reading, doing crossword puzzles and enjoyed attending music theatre. Her unconditional love for her family will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her husband Gib of the home; son, Dale (Kathy) Phares; daughters, Linda (Wes) Penner, Sheryl (Drew) Hawks; and son-in-law Greg Eilert; 11 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren; one brother, Dick (Loy) Arnold; and many nieces and nephews.

Wilma was preceded in death by her parents; step-mother, Veta; husband, Eldon; and daughter Karla; 3 sisters and 4 brothers.

Memorials are suggested to Samaritan's Purse (PO Box 3000 Boone, NC 28607) as she loved packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child to be sent around the world spreading the gospel of Christ.

Funeral services will be at Palmyra Baptist Church, Benton, on Friday, November 29, 2024 at 1:30 p.m.

Private family interment will be in Green Valley Cemetery, Furley, preceding the funeral.