Wilma L. Spallinger, age 80, died on Monday, June 25, 2018 at 3:55 p.m. at St. Rita’s Medical Center, Lima.

          She was born on August 2, 1937 in Ft. Wayne, Indiana to the late William and Mary (Dunbar) Knell.  On May 20, 1956 Wilma married Herbert D. Spallinger and he survives in Ada.

          Wilma was a dispatcher/clerk for the Ada Police Department, she also helped implement the first 911 system in Ada.  She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Ada and former secretary for the church.  She was a 1955 graduate of Ada High School and attended Ohio Northern University, Ada and Rhodes State College, where she maintained a 3.9 gpa.  Wilma was a former member of the Jaycette’s, the Ada Women’s Association and the Red Hat Society.  Wilma loved history, to read, animals, music, painting and she was very artistic.  She enjoyed traveling to Door County, Wisconsin and Charleston, South Carolina.  She was a fan of The Ohio State Buckeyes.  Wilma loved spending time with her family and especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren.   

          Also surviving are her four daughters: Kelly (Rory) Massillo of Ada, Kathy (Bobby) Purcell of Kenton, Karen Goodwin of Lima and Kerry (Shawn) Fuller of Lima; eight grandchildren: Kye (Andrea) Massillo, Danielle (Chris) Ward, Jake (Jesse) Purcell, Lindsey (Shawn) Howard, Daniel (Renee) Goodwin, Sean (Holly) Goodwin, Lauren (Jeff) Gilgenbach and Reed Fuller; thirteen great grandchildren; and a brother, John (Linda) Knell of Cleveland.

          A private family memorial service will be held at a later date.  It was her wish to be cremated. 

          In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society and/or the American Heart Association.