Wilhelmia Van Willingh's Obituary
Mrs. Wilhelmina Petronella Van Willingh, age 82 of Bolivar, passed away at 4:47 AM Monday, July 27, 2009 at the Parkview Healthcare Facility in Bolivar. She was born in Springbok, Namaqualand the Republic of South Africa on July 8, 1927 the daughter of Willem Johannes Engelbrecht and Catharina Aletta Johanna Jacoba (Weise) Engelbrecht. Willie married Arthur Edward Ernest Van Willingh, August 16, 1952 and to this union, two sons and a daughter were born. They shared 39 years together before he preceded her in death June 20, 1992. She spent most of her life in Cape Town, South Africa where she was a bookkeeper for a bakery, and where she retired at the age of 62. Willie moved to Bolivar in 1994 after the death of her husband to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Esther and Lance Lovelace. Willie had been a professing Christian since she accepted the Lord at the age of 45. Willie was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bolivar. She enjoyed gardening, traveling to visit her family in South Africa, volunteering in the church kitchen on Wednesdays and at Bolivar Primary School. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.. She also enjoyed visiting with her neighbors. She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur; her parents, Willem Johannes and Catharina Aletta Johanna Jacoba Engelbrecht; two sisters, Huibreg Johanna Aletta Burger and Helena Apolona Oelofse; five brothers, Willem Aderjan Engelbrecht, Jacobus Andries Christian Engelbrecht, Hendrik Jacobus Engelbrecht, Tielman Teunis Engelbrecht and Johannes Jacobus Engelbrecht. Surviving is her daughter, Esther Lovelace and husband Lance of Bolivar, MO; two sons, Anthony John Van Willingh and wife Renee of Cape Town, South Africa and Terrence Arthur William Van Willingh of Johannesburg, South Africa. Also a sister, Sophia Johanna Catrina Heunis of Cape Town, South Africa and 6 Grandchildren; Ian and Christian of Bolivar, Adam of Cape Town, South Africa, Nicholas, Aidan and Zoe of Johannesburg, South Africa. She also leaves other family members and many friends in South Africa and Bolivar. A visitation will be held on Thursday, July 30, 2009 from 11:30AM to 12:30 PM in the Butler Chapel in Bolivar. Graveside funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 30, 2009 at 1:00 PM in the Mt. Gilead Cemetery south of Bolivar with Dr. William Hooper officiating. Burial will be under the direction and care of the Butler Funeral Home of Bolivar. Casketbearers will be Ian Lovelace, Donald Lovelace, Dale Lovelace, Donald Jump, Greg Futter and L. D. Silvey. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association % of Butler Funeral Home, P.O. Box 11, Bolivar, MO 65613. Friend may sign the guest book or send private condolences at www.butlerfuneralhome.com Return to top
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