Wilma Avenell was a professional school teacher at elementary and high schools. The last 17 years of her career were devoted to teaching Spanish at East Bakersfield High School. She started a club called Los Vivos; and she devoted several weeks for several summers traveling to Spanish speaking countries - one where she spoke with members of both sides of a local dispute and one other where she was unable to converse with people of Basque descent.
Her memorial service at the Bakersfield Presbyterian Church was attended by a massive crowd. All pews were jammed with people, all aisles were jammed with more people and there was a crowd standing outside the building! The Pastor - Mr. Newquist - was in tears of disbelief about the huge crowd!
My mother was an awesome person who bore four children - two daughters and two sons - of which I am, now at 93.5 years of age, the last one still living.
William Thomas
Her memorial service at the Bakersfield Presbyterian Church was attended by a massive crowd. All pews were jammed with people, all aisles were jammed with more people and there was a crowd standing outside the building! The Pastor - Mr. Newquist - was in tears of disbelief about the huge crowd!
My mother was an awesome person who bore four children - two daughters and two sons - of which I am, now at 93.5 years of age, the last one still living.
William Thomas
