Wilma Smith Crystal

Aug. 16, 1924 — Nov. 30, 2016

Wilma Smith Crystal passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016, at the age of 92.

Wilma was born Aug. 16, 1924, to Robert and Ethyl (Terwilliger) Smith in Monrovia, California. She grew up in Sierra Madre, California, as the older of two daughters.

In Los Angeles during WWII, Wilma joined the war effort as a “skate girl” in the Lockheed airplane hangars, delivering engineering blueprints on roller-skates.

She graduated from UCLA in English and history and then continued on to earn both her teaching and counseling credentials. A longtime resident of both Vacaville and Fairfield, Wilma was a teacher and counselor in the Fairfield-Suisun School District for 40 years.

Wilma was a strong woman with many passions and she gave freely of her time. She served as president of the American Association of University Women, Fairfield chapter for many years. In the mid-1980s, she organized an AIDS Forum at Solano Community College. She was a charter member of the University Society where she was an enthusiastic supporter of their Assist-a-Grad scholarship to help young women get to college.

An opera fan, Wilma volunteered as an usher for the San Francisco Opera for 15 years. She also enjoyed reading and travel, and went camping with her granddaughters well into her 70s. Wilma loved card games. She was a joyfully competitive bridge player and hosted twice-weekly games up until last month. On Thanksgiving Day, while in the hospital, she played a fierce game of Pitch with her family and won.

Wilma will also be remembered for her wit and infectious good humor. To hear her and her sister Dorothy laughing together was pure joy.

Wilma is survived by her husband of 66 years and the love of her life, Carlton; her daughter, Carlyn Crystal; son-in-law, John Goodwin; granddaughters, Emma and Jayne Goodwin; her niece, Sandy Tjosvold; and nephews, Ron Grace and Dale Grace.

She was preceded in death by her nephew, Larry Grace; and her beloved sister, Dorothy Grace.

A memorial service and celebration of Wilma’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016, at Church of the Epiphany, 300 West St., Vacaville, California.

In lieu of flowers, Wilma requested that donations be made to the University Society Assist-a-Grad scholarship fund. Send to: Chris Moore, U.S. Treasurer, 504 Via Palo Linda, Fairfield, CA 94534.