Wilma "Billie" (Thomas) Davenport

WILMA "BILLIE" THOMAS DAVENPORT, 87, of Warsaw, passed away peacefully Thursday, May 14, 2009, at her home surrounded by her family. Born July 7, 1921, in Evansville, she was the only child of the late Ray Henry Thomas, MD and Wilma "Busha" Edna Thomas, RN. The Thomases were stationed at an Evansville army hospital at the time of Wilma's birth, relocating to South Bend shortly afterwards. She married Rodney Bell Davenport on Oct. 16, 1948, in South Bend. In 1957, she and Rodney moved from Cincinnati, Ohio to Warsaw, where they made a cottage on Irish Lake into their permanent residence on property purchased by Wilma's parents, in 1923.

She attended South Bend Riley High School and graduated in 1943 from Indianapolis Methodist Hospital School of Nursing, and in 1977 from St. Mary of the Woods College. S

he served in the Army Nurse Corps during World War II. A career registered nurse and nursing home administrator, she retired from the Indiana State Department of Health. She was also employed at Murphy Medical Center, Whitley County Memorial Hospital, Parkview Hospital, Peabody Memorial Home, and Warsaw Nursing Home. She took pride in her successful career and was devoted to her husband and children. She and Rodney are the proud parents of 12 children, David Davenport of Bloomington, Rebecca (James) Taylor of Berea, Ky., Christie Davenport of Warsaw, Ray (Sherry Sanders) Davenport of South Whitley, Bridget Davenport of Indianapolis, Mary Hurley of Warsaw, Anne Mynhier of South Whitley, Clare Gilmore of Portland, Texas, Siobhan Davenport of Warsaw, Kelly Davenport (Thomas Delaney) of Columbia City, Stephanie (David) Clements of Kirklin, and Elizabeth (Thomas) Stonecypher of Columbia, S.C. the proud grandparents of 34 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.

She was also preceded in death by three great-grandchildren.

Funeral service is 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, where visitation is from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Graveside service for the family is 2 p.m. Saturday at Riverview Cemetery, South Bend. The family requests memorial donations be made to Kosciusko County Home Care & Hospice, PO Box 1196, Warsaw, IN 46581-1196.

Published by Fort Wayne Newspapers on May 15, 2009.

06/23/2023 EJS

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/fortwayne/name/wilma-davenport-obituary?id=24209827