We all have an appointment with those pearly gates. We weren’t ready but, in true Roma fashion, she showed up early.
Roma Rae Wisdom left us on May 14, 2021. There is quite the reunion going on as she joins her husband, Terry, her brothers Lloyd, Kenneth, Bob, and Larry Whitson, her sister Sophia Howell, and her parents.
She was the youngest of 6 feisty kids brought into this world by Eula and Velmer Whitson. Tragically, Velmer passed when Roma was very small. After a time, along came Walter Parsons. Eula and Walter fell in love and he embraced the whole family.
Roma grew up in Lawrence picked on by her siblings and exploring with her friends. Other than a short time in Iowa when her own kids were young, the Lawrence and Eudora area has always been her home.
Roma’s kids were her pride. Josh Fraser (Molly), Amanda Murtagh, Amelia Murtagh, Josh Wisdom, Amber Garcia (Greg) and Jason Spillman.
Her grandkids were her joy. Chase Fraser (Caitlyn), Kori Fraser, Kasey Fraser, Makenna Wisdom, Madelyn Garcia, and Taylor Spillman. And the greats, Carter, Benjamin, Joshua, and Graysen.
She found herself working for the sanitation dept of Lawrence and worked her way up, making it into the drivers seat of a garbage truck and becoming the first female garbage truck driver in Lawrence. Roma found her calling. If it could haul, she could drive it.
She had an affinity for scratch offs and casinos backed up by an unusual amount of luck and intuition. She could tell you which machine to play and chances are you would win. It was fun to watch.
Roma loved her garden but she loved her dogs more. In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made to the Lawrence Humane Society in her honor.
Services for Roma will be Saturday, May 22, 2021 at 2pm at Rumsey Yost Funeral Home 601 Indiana St. Lawrence, KS 66044. We want to hear your stories! Feel free to write a few memories down and bring them with you.
