Wilma Helen Hampton

Wilma Helen (Strickland) Hampton, 87, of Schulenburg, TX and formerly of Las Cruces passed away Tuesday evening May 17,2005 in the LaGrange, TX hospital. She was born January 31, 1918 in Sanderson, TX to William Henry Strickland and Bertha (Overstreet) Strickland. The family later moved to the Mesilla Valley where Helen was raised on the family farm. She graduated from Las Cruces Union High School in 1935 and continued her education at NM A&M (NMSU). She received her Bachelor's Degree in Home Economics in 1945 and her Masters Degree in Elementary Education in 1954. She served during WW II in the US Army- WAC from 1943-1945 as a 1st Lieutenant. While in the WAC, Helen met and married Sgt. Joe L. Hampton, Jr. A longtime resident of Las Cruces, she was a District Manager for World Book Education Products for 20 years and was a dedicated teacher for 28 years in Florida and New Mexico. In October 2003 Helen moved to the La Grange, TX area to be close to her daughter and grandchildren and newest great-grandchildren. Helen is preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and two sisters. She is survived by a daughter, Betty, and husband Ernest Keeney of La Grange, TX, a son, William Pete, and wife Susan Hampton of Las Cruces; six grandchildren. Stacy Johnson and husband Frank, Thomas Keeney and wife Christina, and Donna Rohde and husband Jimmy, all of Texas as well as William P. Hampton and wife Rachel, David Author Hampton and Jackie Lea Hampton, all of the Las Cruces area; five great-grandchildren, Lindsay Elizabeth Hampton, Zachary Ryan Hampton, and Kodi Pete Hampton, Harley Rose Rohde and Brennan Keeney: a sister, Margaret Caldwell of Paradise, CA; as well as several nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. Services will be held Tuesday May 31, 2005 at 2:00 pm at Getz Funeral Home with Rev. Gary Seelau, of University United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens Cemetery with military honors. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the New Mexico State University Education Scholarship Fund, any local library or to a favorite charity. PDF Printable Version