Wilma Lee Chavis Isler's Obituary
Wilma Lee Chavis Isler began her life journey on December 10, 1928 in Tampa, Florida. She was the only child of William and Mary Chavis but grew up with first cousins Mary Baker and Dorothy Carter.
Wilma was educated in the public school system of Hillsborough County and graduated from Howard W. Blake High School. In her early twenties, she moved to Springfield, Massachusetts. After many years as a domestic, she continued her education at the University of Massachusetts at the Center for Social Work and Counseling. Wilma received her degree in Drug Rehabilitation Counseling and worked as an outreach drug counselor. She was well respected and loved by her clients and often went beyond the “Call of Duty” on their behalf.
While in Springfield, Wilma met her longtime partner and preceded to give birth to and raise her daughters, Cynthia Elaine Chavis, Crystal Charmaine Rivers and her son LeRoy Chavis, Sr. While still in Springfield Wilma later met and married the love of her life, Walter Isler, Jr.
They moved to Washington D.C. in 1974 where she was employed with the National Child Day Care Association as the number one superior Cook and Food Service manager. Wilma loved to cook and served over 3000 children daily until her retirement in 1994.
Wilma then relocated to Ocala, Florida for a number of years and then moved to San Leandro, California to live with her daughter. She continued to be active while in California, cooking for family and friends, attending activities at several of the local senior centers, became an honorary “Road Dog” on the AC Transit Castro Valley Bus route, and became a member of the Center for Elder Independence. Wilma attended East Bay Church of Religious Science and enjoyed going to movies, eating out, and riding the highways!
Wilma answered God’s call to come home on Friday, April 17, 2015 at Alameda Hospital in Alameda, CA. She is preceded in death by her husband, Walter C. Isler, Jr. and her daughter Cynthia Elaine Chavis. In her passing, she leaves to cherish her memory, her son, LeRoy, Chavis Sr. her daughter, Crystal Charmaine Rivers, her daughter-in-law, June Chavis, her grandsons, LeRoy Chavis, Jr., Bryan Mitchell Chavis, and her first cousins, Mary Baker and Dorothy Carter and a host of loving nieces, nephews, family and friends. She always used to say, “See you later Alligator, after while Crocidile !!:”
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