Wilda Lois Williams

Wilda Lois Williams passed away peacefully at her home in LeRoy, KS, on Saturday, January 31, 2026. Wilda was born on May 22, 1932 in Lamont, KS to Frank Warren Peres and Emma (Kellenberger) Peres. Wilda had five siblings: brother Warren Peres, twin brothers Orvil Peres and Oren (Wayne) Peres, sister Retha Farmer and twin sister Wilma Williams. Wilda grew up on a farm three miles northwest of LeRoy and attended LeRoy schools. After graduation from LeRoy High School, Wilda worked at the Hallmark cards factory in Topeka.

She married John Arthur Williams on April 22, 1951 and they shared 71 years of marriage before John passed away in 2022. Together they had eight children and Wilda dedicated her life to the most important job of all, raising her children and fostering a loving home, full of creativity. Wilda was an artist through and through and found wonderful ways to express her creativity including painting, ceramics, stained glass, sewing and crocheting, which are displayed throughout her home and in the homes of many she loved. She had an incredible imagination and an eye for finding ways to repurpose even the most simple things and give them new life. Her endeavors didn't stop there, as she was a devoted farm wife who shared in the labor of her and John's garden and poured her care into canning and preparations of her staple recipes to sustain their home.

She was an avid Barbie Doll collector and loved collecting both new and already loved Barbies that she would bring back to life, designing and sewing new clothes, fixing hair, or even building new parts if they happened to be missing one from their previous adventures. She and her twin sister, Wilma, opened the "Barbies and More" Museum on their 80th birthday in LeRoy where they loved to share their prized collection with others. The two were even featured with their Barbie collection on KTWU Sunflower Journeys in 2017. Wilda also shared her time and talent to help her son tuckpoint the limestone wall at the Pizza Parlor in LeRoy where "The Great Wall of Wilda" is featured. Even into her final days, Wilda maintained her kindness, grace, compassion and love of family and friends. In her 93 years, Wilda found ways to bring new life into every relationship and circumstance, whether it be through a helping hand, one of her many artistic gifts, or a simple listening ear, she always had time and space for the ones she loved. She will be dearly missed, but her impact on our lives will never be forgotten.

Wilda is preceded in death by her husband, John; her parents, Frank and Emma; her three brothers, Warren, Orvil and Wayne; her sister, Retha and her twin sister, Wilma; and her daughter-in-law, Norma Williams.

Wilda's many talents and gifts live on, as she is lovingly remembered by her eight children George (Norma) of Wichita; Dave (Shirley) of Burlington, Janice (Jim) Krueger of Burlington, Kathryn Riley of Iola, Mark of LeRoy, Vernon (Christine) of LeRoy, Francis (Carrie) of LeRoy, Jaymie (Angela) of Gridley, 21 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren.

Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at Jones Funeral Home, Burlington. Family will receive friends from 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Center Hill Cemetery, LeRoy. Memorial contributions may be made to Hand In Hand Hospice or Meals on Wheels and may be sent in care of Jones Funeral Home, P.O. Box 277, Burlington, KS 66839.