Wilhelmina EDWARDS

EDWARDS Wilhelmina Millar (Spankie) (Edinburgh)
Passed away peacefully, on March 9, 2021, at Murrayfield Care Home in Edinburgh. She was 101 years of age and died of natural causes. She was predeceased by her husband, Major John Edwards MBE, her parents Greig and Rose Spankie and her siblings Greig, Gordon, Nan and James. She is survived by her adopted daughter, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great and great-great-nephews. and nieces as well as her nephew Donald Paterson and niece Patricia King, both of British Columbia.
Born in the Dean Village during the flu pandemic of 1919, she attended the Dean Village School, where she met her lifelong friend Maisie (Laurie) McKelvie. After taking her Highers at Boroughmuir School she joined the Department of Labour in Glasgow and in 1940 enlisted in the WAAF (Women's Auxiliary Air Force), Met Division. She was eventually stationed at Prestwick. After the war she rejoined the Department of Labour.
In 1949 Wilma married John Edwards. They lived at various places as John's army postings changed, Orkney, Wales, Malta and England. On John's retirement the couple moved to Currie, Midlothian. After John's death in 1976, Wilma moved to Morningside and then Barnton. For the past three years she has lived in the Murrayfield Care Home.
Wilma had many friends from the Dean Village and her armed services days with whom she kept in touch. Wilma was also a keen sportswoman and played hockey for Boroughmuir School and later for the Edinburgh Ladies, both before and after the war, she could never resist watching a good rugby match.