Hildred Jean Wilant

1922 - 2011

Hildred Jean Wilant, age 88, passed away peacefully May 10, 2011. Born to John and Hildred Manning June 16, 1922 in Indian Valley, Idaho, she was the second of four children. Jean attended grade school in Indian Valley and graduated in 1941from Enterprise High School in Enterprise, Oregon. Jean worked for three years and attended business school part time in Portland, Oregon. In 1944 she joined the U.S. Navy and was stationed at Patuxent River, Maryland assigned to Communications with the Naval Air Transport Service. She was decorated with the American Campaign Ribbon and the Victory Ribbon for her outstanding contributions to Air Naval Operations. Jean married Walter Wilant in 1946 in Hempstead, New York and in 1953 moved to Spokane, Washington where she lived for over 40 years. Jean had a successful career of more than 20 years as the office manager of a regional insurance company. She was also an active member of the First Baptist Church in downtown Spokane. Jean and Walter had three children, Beverly, Keith and Kenneth. Walter preceded her in death in 1990. Jean moved to Melbourne, Florida in 1994 to live near her two grandchildren, Penny and Byron. Jean is survived by her three children, Beverly (Bob) Palm, Keith (Debbie Davis), Kenneth (Won); and grandchildren, Penny and Byron Wilant. Other survivors include her sister, Lucile (Richard) Higgins; Herb Elrod and Walter Ehlen.