Obituary for Ola Mae Ward
Ola Mae Willman Ward of Snyder, Texas, age 94, a baptized child of God, was welcomed into the arms of
Jesus on April 30, 2022. She was born on April 15, 1928 to John and Mary Spross in McClennan County,
Texas. She was the youngest of ten children, having only one sister.
Ola Mae attended school in Crawford, Texas, and was a member of the girls’ volleyball team. She married
Tilbert Willman of Coryell County on March 17, 1945. They relocated to West Texas in 1946, settling in
Inadale where they remained their entire marriage of 42 years, and raised their family. Their country home, and
rural grocery store they owned and operated for a number of years, was a place of many special gatherings with
family and friends.
Tilbert passed away in 1987, and after being widowed for four years, Ola Mae once again found love and
married J.K. (Jimmy) Ward of Snyder on July 6, 1991. Ola Mae and Jimmy were blessed with 25 years of
marriage.
Ola Mae was a faithful and long-time member of First Salem Lutheran Church in Roscoe, serving the ladies
auxiliary in many capacities. She volunteered for many years at the Roscoe Nursing Home before becoming
their full-time Activity Director. Ola Mae also volunteered for many years as a “pink lady” at Cogdell
Memorial Hospital in Snyder, working first in the snack bar and later in the gift shop. She loved and never tired
of her volunteer work. Ola Mae was a great cook and loved to bake. She shared her baked goods at many
fundraiser bake sales as well as with friends and family around the kitchen table with a cup of coffee. She loved
gardening and sharing the fruits of her labor. She shelled many black-eyed peas and pecans over the years,
which she joyfully gave away to anyone who wanted them. And she always had gum in her purse for her
grandchildren on Sunday mornings at church! Whether you knew her for five minutes or your entire life, you
knew she loved you, because she never missed an opportunity to say “I love you.” She will also be remembered
for all the priceless advice she gave without hesitation!
Ola Mae was preceded in death by her parents, John and Mary Spross, seven brothers and one sister, husband
Tilbert Willman, second husband J.K. Ward, and step-daughter Donna Smith (Jeff). She is survived by her
children Larry Willman (Pam) of Early, Ronald “Gus” Willman (Laurie) of Roscoe, Gina Zimmerman (Mark)
of Midland, and Terry Willman of Roscoe; step-children Jeanette Sutton (David) of Snyder, Keith Ward
(Debra) of Bristow, OK, and Jeff Smith of Snyder; and also her brother Sidney Spross of Waco. She is also
survived by eight grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren; seven step grandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Our Mother and Mema will be deeply missed, but she left us with a lifetime of treasured memories. Our hearts
are heavy, but we rejoice in the promise of the resurrection!
The family would like to thank Dr. Kevin Hough and his team, the entire staff at Good Life Senior Living, and
the nurses and physical therapists at Cogdell Home Health for their excellent care of our mother.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Miller Family Funeral Home in Snyder. Visitation will be held
May 4th at Miller Family Funeral Home in Snyder at 10:00 a.m. Graveside services will follow at Roscoe
Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. Grandson-in-law Trevor Gentry of Lubbock will officiate the service. Honorary
pallbearers will be her grandsons John David Willman, Troy Love, Michael Pritschow, Chris Talamantez, Mark
Willman, David Sutton, Jr., Ryan Ward, and Ben Cook, and life-long friends Royce Walker, Billy Roy Hallman
and Ralph Stirl.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels (Snyder), Cogdell Memorial Hospital
Auxiliary, or the charity of ones choice.
online condolences may be left to the family by visiting millerfamilyfuneralhome.com
Jesus on April 30, 2022. She was born on April 15, 1928 to John and Mary Spross in McClennan County,
Texas. She was the youngest of ten children, having only one sister.
Ola Mae attended school in Crawford, Texas, and was a member of the girls’ volleyball team. She married
Tilbert Willman of Coryell County on March 17, 1945. They relocated to West Texas in 1946, settling in
Inadale where they remained their entire marriage of 42 years, and raised their family. Their country home, and
rural grocery store they owned and operated for a number of years, was a place of many special gatherings with
family and friends.
Tilbert passed away in 1987, and after being widowed for four years, Ola Mae once again found love and
married J.K. (Jimmy) Ward of Snyder on July 6, 1991. Ola Mae and Jimmy were blessed with 25 years of
marriage.
Ola Mae was a faithful and long-time member of First Salem Lutheran Church in Roscoe, serving the ladies
auxiliary in many capacities. She volunteered for many years at the Roscoe Nursing Home before becoming
their full-time Activity Director. Ola Mae also volunteered for many years as a “pink lady” at Cogdell
Memorial Hospital in Snyder, working first in the snack bar and later in the gift shop. She loved and never tired
of her volunteer work. Ola Mae was a great cook and loved to bake. She shared her baked goods at many
fundraiser bake sales as well as with friends and family around the kitchen table with a cup of coffee. She loved
gardening and sharing the fruits of her labor. She shelled many black-eyed peas and pecans over the years,
which she joyfully gave away to anyone who wanted them. And she always had gum in her purse for her
grandchildren on Sunday mornings at church! Whether you knew her for five minutes or your entire life, you
knew she loved you, because she never missed an opportunity to say “I love you.” She will also be remembered
for all the priceless advice she gave without hesitation!
Ola Mae was preceded in death by her parents, John and Mary Spross, seven brothers and one sister, husband
Tilbert Willman, second husband J.K. Ward, and step-daughter Donna Smith (Jeff). She is survived by her
children Larry Willman (Pam) of Early, Ronald “Gus” Willman (Laurie) of Roscoe, Gina Zimmerman (Mark)
of Midland, and Terry Willman of Roscoe; step-children Jeanette Sutton (David) of Snyder, Keith Ward
(Debra) of Bristow, OK, and Jeff Smith of Snyder; and also her brother Sidney Spross of Waco. She is also
survived by eight grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren; seven step grandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Our Mother and Mema will be deeply missed, but she left us with a lifetime of treasured memories. Our hearts
are heavy, but we rejoice in the promise of the resurrection!
The family would like to thank Dr. Kevin Hough and his team, the entire staff at Good Life Senior Living, and
the nurses and physical therapists at Cogdell Home Health for their excellent care of our mother.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Miller Family Funeral Home in Snyder. Visitation will be held
May 4th at Miller Family Funeral Home in Snyder at 10:00 a.m. Graveside services will follow at Roscoe
Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. Grandson-in-law Trevor Gentry of Lubbock will officiate the service. Honorary
pallbearers will be her grandsons John David Willman, Troy Love, Michael Pritschow, Chris Talamantez, Mark
Willman, David Sutton, Jr., Ryan Ward, and Ben Cook, and life-long friends Royce Walker, Billy Roy Hallman
and Ralph Stirl.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels (Snyder), Cogdell Memorial Hospital
Auxiliary, or the charity of ones choice.
online condolences may be left to the family by visiting millerfamilyfuneralhome.com