11/13/2025
Wilma Jean (Martin) Pritchett
Wilma Jean Pritchett, 95, of Waco passed away Wednesday, November 12, 2025. A graveside service will be Monday, November 17, 2025 at Waco Memorial Park with Bro. Roy Marshall officiating.
Our mom Wilma Pritchett
On June 26, 1930, a baby girl was born named Wilma Jean Martin with brown hair and blue eyes to loving parents, mom Velma Pauline Smith Martin and dad Lewis Vernon Martin. She was born in the home of her Uncle Walter and Aunt Marie off Seneca Ave in Bartlesville, OK. Raised as a country girl, at around the age of 3 or 4 years old her dad moved the family to Vinita, OK to help manage the farm with her grandparents Preston and Mary Smith (on her mom’s side). Her grandpa Preston loved to nickname all the grandkids, so he always called Wilma “Betsy.”At the age of 5 she became a big sister to a brother named Ronald Lewis Martin. From then on, her dad always referred to her as Sister. She would walk or ride her bike to attend a one room country school, and she used to tell us about the country dogs that scared her as she was walking or riding her bike trying to get to school. Like any big sister, when her brother was old enough to attend, she would have to make sure she got him to school. Her brother developed polio in one leg, and it kept her mom very busy taking care of him, so Wilma was always with her dad and once a week she would get to go to town with him.Around the age of 14, her dad returned the family to Bartlesville, and she started attending Central Junior High School. This was a big step for her, going from a country school to a big city school, but she excelled and went on eventually graduating from College High School and adding some college courses while there. Right after high school graduation, Wilma began working for Phillips Petroleum Company in Bartlesville, OK in the purchasing department.After the family returned to Bartlesville a neighbor asked Wilma’s mom and dad if she could take her to church and she took her to First Baptist of Bartlesville. Wilma would mention how she was warmly welcomed, and everyone made her feel like this was to be her church home. She started attending regularly and in a short period of time Wilma accepted Jesus as her personal Savior and was baptized around the age of 26. She always told us that Jesus was her best friend, and her favorite song was “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”. Because of Wilma’s faithfulness and enthusiasm for Jesus she got her mom, dad and brother to start attending church and they all became Christians.On September 1, 1950, Wilma married her best friend and the love of her life Robert Eugene Pritchett at the First Baptist Church of Bartlesville. Robert had come to Bartlesville to work at Phillips Petroleum Company, and they met in the singles Sunday School Class at First Baptist Church of Bartlesville. They were married 62 years and had 3 children Teresa Jean, Tamara Lynn and Martin Robert.Wilma did not work after her children were born. She stayed home and dedicated her life as a homemaker and mom. Wilma was a wonderful mom, and we are all blessed as her children. She always made sure her family had great meals every day, whether breakfast, lunch or dinner and pies and cakes and wonderful desserts. Also, as her children we would remember jumping off the school bus and running home to be greeted with hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies, especially when it was cold outside. She also sewed a lot of our dresses and costumes for different school or church activities. Mom and dad both always took us to church every Sunday morning and Sunday evening and would talk to us about our faith. Wilma was active in all her children’s school activities and church activities. Wilma was always very faithful in church serving in many roles, but a few were Sunday School Teacher, Sun Beam Teacher, Vacation Bible School Teacher, GA Teacher and WMU President. Mission work was very important to Wilma, and she especially loved working in church on missions.Wilma went back to work to help financially when her children were in Junior High and High School to get ready for the college finances coming soon. Her career at Phillips had now extended 12 more years and again she excelled, being promoted to Import/Export Specialist. She was very dedicated and worked hard for her success and loved her job. Her family was very proud of her accomplishments and success with her career at Phillip Petroleum Company. Wilma also loved gardening and planting beautiful flowers. She especially loved daylilies and knew all their names. She also loved to read books when she could find time.Wilma and Robert moved to Waco, Texas in 2000 to be closer to their children and 2 grandsons John Robert Pavey and Nathan Robert Pritchett whom she loved very much. They became members of Woodway Baptist Church and Joined the Oasis Sunday School class. Her service to church did not stop after they moved as she volunteered in the staff office at Woodway Baptist Church and volunteered at the Woodway Christian School reading books in the 3- and 4-year-old and kindergarten children’s classrooms.In 2012 her husband and best friend Robert Eugene passed away. Then in 2014 Wilma was diagnosed with dementia. This made life very difficult for her, but she kept her strong personality and beautiful smile and faith in Jesus, and we could all see her shine every day to the best of her ability.We will all miss our beautiful mom and Mema every day, but we are so blessed and comforted knowing that she is in Heaven right now with God and re-united with our dad, her brother and her parents.God you are so Good!
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