Wilma June (Kirby) Low

Published 12:27 am Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Dec. 1, 1933 – June 1, 2016

Wilma passed peacefully in her sleep of heart failure, at her home on June 1st. She was a life-long resident of Tumalo. The youngest of six children, she loved riding horses. She rode saddle bronc at local rodeos and as a jockey for a neighborhood race horse owner competing at Portland Meadows. She was also a Sisters Rodeo princess in the early 1950s and head of the horseback riding clubs in 1952, the year she graduated Redmond Union High School.

Wilma worked at the Tumalo Water Project office where she met Kenneth Low, her future husband. In 1954, they were married and she moved four miles from her parent’s residence on Gerking Market Road to her husband’s home on Swalley Road where she resided for the following 62 years.

She was very active and a natural leader. She was a local 4_H Club leader, team captain of her bowling team and even served as Squadron Commander of the Central Oregon unit of the Civil Air Patrol in the 1970s, She loved social activities, regularly hosting pinochle and Yahtze parties in her home and was a member of the local Las Paulauwnas Ladies Club.

After Ken retired, they took up golf and joined the Redmond Golf Club, and were also members of the local Grange and Oregon Pioneer Club, and later, regulars at the Golden Age Club pinochle game.

Wilma was preceded in death by husband, Kenneth C. Low; parents, Darwin and Martha Kirby; brothers, Mervin, Leonard, and Vernon Kirby; and sisters, Clarice Watkins and Navada Killian. She is survived by sons, Darwin T. (Melody) Low; son, Charles D. Low; granddaughter, Arwen (Lee) Schoenthal; grandson, Kyle Low, granddaughter, Stacy (Jonathon) Foster; grandson, Ross Low; grandson, Lonny Rosa (Katelind); granddaughter, Cassie Low; grandson, Clinton Low; and seven great grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m., Sat. July 16, at Tumalo Community Church. A Committal service for Ken and Wilma will be at Deschutes Memorial Gardens, Monday July 18 at 11 a.m. Memorial contribution may be made in Wilma’s memory c/o Deacon’s Fund, Tumalo Community Church, 64671 Bruce Ave., Bend OR 97703.