Wilma I. Carleno

Wilma Ione Carleno passed away Sept. 8, 2018, in Durango, Colorado. She was 99 years old, and would have turned 100 on Oct. 5th.

Born in Marshall, Missouri in 1918, she was the oldest of Olive and Edwin Thomas' three children. A principled woman, she deeply believed in her country and service to others. With the start of World War II, she enlisted in the newly formed Women's Auxiliary Army Corp, which later became the Women's Army Corp. Afterward, she followed her family's professional tradition as a teacher and met her husband of 72 years, Raymond Benjamin Carleno, in Denver, Colorado. They then moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where they raised their daughter, Olivia Elizabeth Carleno.

Being a caring mother and grandmother, keeping an orderly, elegant home and dressing stylishly were among her many graces, and she radiated a patient kindness that made her a favorite with small children and dogs, the latter of which she always had closely trotting at her heels. She easily transitioned from country clubs and big city department stores to barns and cornfields, never forgetting her childhood home and farm. She always judged others by the quality of their character and never their social status or material wealth. She had a boundless taste for adventure that took her on travels with Ray to find the next great fishing hole Their retirement was spent on the Texas Gulf Coast, but keeping in touch with those she loved was always more important than her geographical coordinates.

She is preceded in death by her husband, her sister, Mary Gauldin, and her beloved pup, Rocket. Surviving is her daughter, Olivia, of Durango; grandsons Raymond Dennison, of Houston, and Neal Dennison, of New York City; brother Jim Thomas and his wife, Shirley, of Pittsburg, KS; sisters-law, Mary Elizabeth vonFeldt, Janelle Carleno and Uta Carleno; as well as many dear nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held Monday, September 17 beginning at 9:00 AM followed by Funeral Service at 10:30 AM at Horan & McConty Family Chapel, 3101 South Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood. She will be laid to rest next to her husband at Fort Logan National Cemetery.

Please share your memories of Wilma and condolences with her family in the Guestbook.

Visitation: September 17, 2018 9:00 am

Horan & McConaty - SW Denver/Lakewood
3101 S. Wadsworth Blvd.
Lakewood, CO 80227

Funeral Service: September 17, 2018 10:30 am

Horan & McConaty - SW Denver/Lakewood
3101 S. Wadsworth Blvd.
Lakewood, CO 80227

Graveside Service: September 17, 2018 12:15 pm

Ft. Logan National Cemetery
3698 South Sheridan Boulevard
Denver, CO 80235