Wilma Hazel Lester Gaddie

Wilma Hazel Lester Gaddie, 94, of Campbellsville, passed away on Thursday, February 13, 2025 in Campbellsville. She was born in Mercer County, Kentucky on July 31, 1930 to Thomas and Sara Jane Russell Lester, who preceded her in death. She united in marriage to George Ray Gaddie on November 21, 1951 and he preceded her in death on April 12, 2009.

Wilma graduated from Campbellsville College and Western Kentucky University and was a second and third grade teacher at Taylor County Elementary School until her retirement. She was a devoted wife and mother and very active in ministry with her husband at the churches he pastored including Friendship Baptist, Salem Baptist, Good Hope Baptist and Yuma Baptist in Taylor County. She was active in the Campbellsville/Taylor County BPW, Retired Teacher’s Association, The President’s Club at Campbellsville University and the Women’s Missionary Union. Wilma was a member of the Campbellsville Baptist Church where she loved her Sunday School class and teaching Vacation Bible School.

Wilma is survived by three children: Ray Gaddie, Punta Gorda, Florida, Jane Wheatley, Campbellsville and Rebecca (Van) Ford, Ft. Myers, Florida. She is also survived by one brother, Devon Lester of Mackville, Kentucky and a sister-in-law, Blanche Gaddie of Campbellsville. She was also preceded in death by a son, David Gaddie and a brother, Wallace Lester.

Wilma is survived by four grandchildren: Ben (Jordan) Ford, Campbellsville, Steve (Amanda) Ford, Campbellsville, Jaclyn (Neil) Dabney, Mannsville and Landon (Kenzie) Dickens, Lexington, Kentucky.

Wilma is also survived by ten great-grandchildren: Zach, Desmond, Devon, Zach, Elissa, Hunter, Ethan, Hayden, Noah and Reid, and four great-great-grandchildren; and a host of other friends and family.

The funeral for Wilma Hazel Gaddie will be Sunday, February 16, 2025 at Parrott & Ramsey Funeral Home at 2:00 P.M., with visitation from 10:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M., before the funeral. The burial will be in Brookside Cemetery.

Officiating at the funeral will be her pastor, Dr. Dwayne Norman. The pallbearers will be Ben Ford, Steve Ford, Neil Dabney, Landon Dickens, Mike Stein and Greg Rice. Honorary pallbearers are the members of her Women’s Sunday School Class.

Contributions should be to Gideon Bibles or the George & Wilma Gaddie Scholarship Fund at Campbellsville University for Ministerial students, and can be made at Parrott & Ramsey Funeral Home.