Willetta Wofford

About "Billie"

Willetta Mae Wofford, known to everyone as Billie, age 100, of Greece, New York, passed away on July 24, 2022.

Billie was born on January 31, 1922, in Carthage, Missouri, to Oda Mae (Barker) and Clyde Brinker. She went to elementary and high school in Carthage. She then attended, and graduated from, the Rude Business College with an Associate degree.

Billie met Kenneth O. Wofford, when both were five years old, in 1927 in Carthage. Billie and Ken were married in the year 1944. They had been married 66 years, when Kenneth passed away in 2010. A son, Kenneth O. Wofford, Jr., was born early in 1946.

Billie was predeceased by her beloved husband, Kenneth, Sr.; parents Oda Mae and Clyde; two brothers Clyde, Jr. and Kenneth and a daughter-in-law Patti. She is survived by a son, Kenneth, Jr.; two granddaughters, Christina, Brockport, New York, and Angela, Richmond, Virginia; and four great-grandchildren, Omar, Kianna, Cheyenne and Julius.

Billie had a remarkable life. Her husband, Kenneth, was a career officer in the United States Air Force. Kenneth was also one of the Tuskegee Airmen. Billie accompanied Kenneth on numerous military duty assignments around the world, including a stint as the “First Lady” of Tachikawa Air Force Base (Japan) when Kenneth became the Base Commander.

Upon Kenneth’s retirement from the Air Force, Billie and Kenneth settled in Golden Valley, Minnesota. Billie had always been the quintessential community volunteer, but became even more deeply involved in her Minnesota community. After a number of years as the “librarian” of the Crystal Care Center Nursing Home, the facility library was named for / dedicated to Billie.

Billie was always a very positive person, with a smile that would inevitably light up her surroundings. Her “Can do!” approach to any situation was infectious. That positivity was one of the traits that made her such an effective role model and leader over the course of her life. Two words frequently used to describe Billie were: inspirational and transformative. Billie truly enjoyed helping and interacting with others, and she was instrumental in enriching the lives of countless people around the world. She was also passionate about leading charitable activities, both on the military bases to which Kenneth was assigned, and in the surrounding civilian communities. Other activities Billie enjoyed included bowling, board games, church activities, Tuskegee Airmen conventions, and hanging out with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

memorial service

Funeral Service

August 11, 2022

Estes Funeral Chapel & Cremation Services 2201 Plymouth Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55411, USA

Burial will take place at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Estes Funeral Chapel & Cremation Services