Wilma L. Dallner Lewis quietly passed away while at Prestige Care Center on April 15, 2025.
Funeral services honoring her life will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at the Cranston Family
Funeral Home in Fairfield, IA with Pastor Al Coffin officiating. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in
Fairfield immediately following the service. Friends may leave online condolences or join the webcast at
www.cranstonfamilyfuneralhome.com.
Wilma was the daughter of E.R. (Espy) and Hattie Hollander Dallner and grew up on a farm southeast of
Fairfield.
Wilma celebrated her 97 th birthday only 4 months ago in December. She was a lifetime resident of the
Fairfield area and married Martin Lewis in 1949 at the First United Methodist Church Chapel after
meeting at the local skating rink. Martin passed in 1998. Wilma married Frank Whitham in 2005 and
was with him until his demise.
After high school, Wilma worked at the telephone office and Dr. Robert A. Ryan’s office above Martin’s Drug Store. She also went to an airline electronic school in Omaha, NE.
After marrying Martin, they raised two daughters and she also became a cook at Lincoln Grade School
and Fairfield Junior High School during those years.
Survivors include two daughters: Diane Lewis and husband Dr. Randy Thomas of Midlothian, VA and
JoAnn Lewis, LMT and husband Duane Rizor (from Fairfield) in Ashland, OR, two granddaughters; Nicole
Rhodes married to Billy Rhodes and great granddaughter Skylar in North Chesterfield, VA and Kaeli Hines
married to Jess Hines and three great grandchildren, Logan, Rhys and Adeline in Tucson AZ and one
grandson, Kirk Lewis Dunlap married to Desiree (Dantzler) Dunlap and two great granddaughters,
Keturah and Kamilla in Denton, TX.
She is preceded in death by her husbands, parents and one brother Vern Dallner.
Wilma was a long time member of the United Methodist Church and one of the oldest living members of
the Log Cabin Chapter of the daughter of the American Revolution (DAR). She was also actively involved
with the 4-H Good Luck Club and the Girl Scouts. She was a charter member of the Hospital Auxiliary,
the Farm Bureau Women, Solitaires, Genealogical Club and member of the Chautauqua Rockhound
Society. She shared with Martin their love of flowers, particularly Iris, gardening, nature and rock
collecting. They enjoyed traveling and replanted wildflowers on the trails of Jefferson County Park
during their retirement years.
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