Wilma Bell Porter

Wilma Bell Porter, the daughter of Leonard and Ardella (Chase) Cochran was born August 8, 1930 in Quimby, IA where she won a beauty contest.

She attended the Quimby School. At age 14 she worked the Quimby switch board after school. Her family moved to Cherokee in the middle of her sophomore year. There she worked at the Soda Grill and later J.C. Penny and Woolworth Dime Store.

She was married to Robert Zembsch in 1948. Following their split she moved to California and transferred to Penny’s there. She met and married Bill Gordon. Wilma and Bill fostered several children and adopted her son Robert Gordon. Her husband passed away at age 42.

Wilma was united in marriage to Bob Porter on October 20, 1971, in Elk Point, SD. They made their home on a farm outside of Cherokee. They later moved to town. Wilma enjoyed many things. She enjoyed animals of all kinds especially dogs and cats. She was very involved in a lot of things. She served as president and district president of the VFW. She worked at the Cherokee County Fair and on the committee for Cherokee’s 150^th birthday celebration. She was also an active member of First Baptist Church and served on many positions during her years there. Most of all, Wilma loved to spend time with family and friends and was lucky to have extended family in Texas  and Tennessee, and her loving niece and her nephews and their children.

On Tuesday, June 11, 2019, Wilma passed away at Cherokee Specialty Care at the age of 88. She was preceded in death by her parents; and one husband, Bill Gordon.

She is survived by her husband, Bob Porter of Cherokee, IA; one son, Robert Gordon; a grandson, Robert; great grandchildren; Lorena and Jason; one sister, Darlene; one niece, Teresa Holloway and three nephews; and her two best friends, Pauline (Lavern) Leeds and Grace (Dennis) Castle.

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