Wilma Beatrix McCurtain Miller, 93, passed away peacefully on June 7, 2025, at Hospice Of The Valley in Chandler, Arizona. Wilma was born on December 19, 1931, in McAlester, Oklahoma to Julia Ward McCurtain and Greenwood Mitchell McCurtain.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Greenwood D. McCurtain and Julian M. McCurtain; and sister Elizabeth L. Ellis.
Survivors include her brother, Ward C.C. McCurtain (Edna Earl) of Beaumont, Texas; four children, Marilyn Bain, Richard Miller Jr.(Lynn), Wade Miller, and Randall Miller; 5 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren.
Wilma was a member of the Choctaw Indian tribe, and the great-granddaughter of Choctaw Chief Green McCurtain. She was also a member of Daughters of the American Revolution.
Wilma was raised in Fort Worth, Texas, and attended Polytechnic High School in the graduating class of 1950. In high school she excelled in tennis and won several tournaments.
Wilma lived most of her adult life in Branchburg, New Jersey. In addition to being a loving mother raising her four children, Wilma worked as a Real Estate agent for several years. Later she worked as an accounting clerk until her retirement.
Wilma never lost her enjoyment of tennis. After she stopped playing, she continued to watch tennis tournaments on television for the rest of her life. She also attended several U.S. Open Tennis tournaments in New York City.
For many years Wilma was a fan of the New York Giants and a season ticket holder. She enjoyed attending the Sunday afternoon football games at Giants Stadium with family and friends.
Some weekends in the summers were spent taking her family to the New Jersey shore. Point Pleasant beach was one of her favorite beach destinations.
In retirement, Wilma enjoyed traveling and visiting family and friends. She also loved vacations to Maui where she visited on fourteen separate occasions.
Wilma loved reading books during her free time, primarily biographies and mysteries. She also was very fond of watching old movies and different mystery TV series such as ‘Murder She Wrote’ and ‘Columbo’.
After moving to Arizona in 2018 she was delighted to be living near many of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and other family members. She loved visiting with all of them.
She also enjoyed weekly trips to the various thrift stores that supported charities in the area. She was always looking for bargains to buy for her family, but especially nice clothes and toys to give to her great-grandchildren.
While living in Arizona she took the opportunity to develop new and close friendships with many of her neighbors. She really cherished these new friendships. She especially enjoyed the group breakfasts and lunches with these new friends.
In her later years, Wilma would at times express how grateful she was to have lived a long life full of wonderful experiences as well as to have a loving family, and so many good friends. She truly embodied the adage of a life well lived.
Obituary provided by Afterall.