Wilma Avery Obituary

Wilma Wescott Avery

December 13, 1928 - January 11, 2025

Wilma Wescott Avery passed away peacefully at the Arkansas home of her daughter, Patricia, on Jan. 11, 2025. Wilma was born Dec. 13, 1928 in E. Poultney, Vermont, to Mabel (Lake) and H. Phillips Wescott. In Poultney, she played in the school band and went with them to the 1939 NY World's Fair. She was very active in 4-H and went to UMass-Amherst on a 4-H scholarship. When she graduated in 1949, she was only 20 years old, quite an accomplishment having started out in a 2-room schoolhouse! She then moved to Brooklyn, NY where she started her career at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. During her 5 years of teaching there, she met her future husband Bill, when her boss set her up on a blind date with his son. After they married, they moved to Absecon, NJ where they raised their 4 children. Although she enjoyed living in Absecon, she always considered herself a Vermonter. She started a new career as an insurance agent, working for many years at Shore Agency, Inc., in Absecon, and later at Atlantic Associates in Atlantic City. When she finally retired at the age of 78, she moved back to E. Poultney, VT, spending her winters with her daughter and family in Bentonville, AR, where she has resided for the last 5 years.

Wilma was a very active member of the Absecon United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, and was a past president of the UMW. She was also an active member of the NJ Insurance Women. She loved dancing, gardening, skiing at Pico, and birdwatching, especially at the wildlife refuge. She was a life member of the SSWDA and attended many Wescott Reunions all over the country. She was also a Red Cross blood donor. Wilma is predeceased by her sister Pauline Dennis, brother Charles Wescott and former husband William P. Avery. She is survived by her sisters, Velma Reed, and Phyllis Reed (Don), VT; her children, Bob (Nina) OR , Pam (Chuck) NJ, Bill (Madeline) NJ and Patti (Hudson) AR as well as her 33 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and a great great grandchild.

A celebration of her life will be held on a later date at the Absecon UMC.