Wilma Charlene Babylon, 86 of Prairie Village, KS, died Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at Shawnee Mission Medical Center in Shawnee Mission, KS. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 12, 2009 at the Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS. Visitation will be from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Saturday at the church. Graveside services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Orient Cemetery in Harrisonville, MO. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her name to the church.

Wilma was born August 27, 1923 to Charles Annas and Clotilda (Canady) Newport. She was the fifth born in a family of seven children, Nina May, Chester Leo, twin sisters, Grace Louisa and Gretta Louisa, Boyd Alvin and Vernon Dee. Wilma and her siblings were born and raised on a farm around Mayview, MO. Wilma attended Wheatley School for eight years and was a 1942 graduate of Odessa High School. She was united in marriage to Max Leroy Babylon, a veteran of World War II in 1948, on October 5, 1948. To this union four children were born, Deborah Lea, Donald Allen, Maxine Lanee and Vernon DeWayne. Wilma loved children and usually had a group of children in her home.

Wilma helped and joined many activities during the time she was raising her family. She was a room mother for 12 years, helping on various programs around the school. She was a member of the Harrisonville United Methodist Church and served as a teacher in the Primary Department at the Grandview Methodist Church. Wilma helped as a Boy Scout leader, Cub Scout leader and a Brownie leader and also served as a Blue Bird counselor and again on the Counsel for Job's Daughters. She also served on the PTA Counsel and the PTSA for three years at Ervin Junior High School and five years at Hickman Mills High School. Wilma was always willing to help on any activities her children took part in.

Wilma sold her home at 10308 Palmer in Kansas City, MO in 1995, after living there for 35 years and moved to Kenilworth Apartments in Prairie Village, KS. She kept very active throughout her life, enjoying square dancing, line dancing, golf, bowling, swimming, camping and helping anyone who needed help. She was also very good at organizing garage sales! She was a member of the Kansas City Swing Dance Club and the USABDA, United States Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association.

Wilma sang in the Singles Choir for a short period of time and has enjoyed the Chancel Choir for over 20 years at the Village Presbyterian Church. She worked, until her death, for over 10 years at the Cosentino Price Chopper at 95th and Mission Road in Prairie Village. She especially looked forward to the Saturdays when she was the Sample Lady of the bakery.

Wilma was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Max in 1987, one sister, Nina May Newport in 1941, two brothers, Chester Leo Newport in 2006 and Boyd Alvin Newport in 2006. She is survived by her children, Deborah Lea Babylon-Ross, Prairie Village, KS, Donald Allen Babylon, Raymore, MO, Maxine Lanee Babylon-Norton, Rexburg, Idaho, Vernon DeWayne Babylon, Rotunda West, Florida; two sisters, Grace Louisa Newport-Clemens and Gretta Louisa Colclasure, both of Marshall, MO; one brother, Vernon Dee Newport, Independence, MO; and she was blessed with five grandchildren, Donivan Max Norton, Michael Douglas Norton, Devin Mitchel Norton, Mason Daniel Norton and Angela Jane Ross-Gill and two great-grandchildren, Trent Thomas Gill and Alex Ann Gill, both of Wellsville, KS. Wilma had a long and wholesome life and will be greatly missed by her family, friends and community.