Wilma Rose Williams Sickle, 88, of St. Leonard, Maryland passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 28, 2021 with her family by her side.
Willie, as most called her, was born in Cleveland, Ohio and was the ninth child born to Evelyn Ortman and Walter Ortman. Willie’s birth father passed away a few months before she was born and was subsequently adopted by Minnie Williams and George Williams soon after her birth. Willie grew up helping her mother with the foster children her mother raised. Willie helped her mother raise 120 foster children over the years, all were infants and toddlers. Many of those children grew up to remain in her life.
Willie married the love of her life, Robert L. Sickle in August 1952. Willie and Bob met years earlier in their church as youth, never knowing they would marry years later. After the birth of their 7th child in 1969, they decided it was time to follow their dream, leave the suburbs of Cleveland and move to Maryland. In October 1970, they found a beautiful farm with a large old farmhouse in St. Leonard with plenty of bedrooms for all of their children. It was there where they planted their roots; Pleasant Acres was founded.
It was not unusual to see Willie working in her vegetable garden or in the tobacco field. There wasn’t much that she didn’t tackle. After her children were grown, Willie took a job in 1980 at Nationwide Pharmacy in Prince Frederick where she worked until 1992. She made many lifelong friends with her co-workers and customers.
She was active in the Christ Episcopal Church Comfort Givers and the St. Leonard Volunteer Fire Department, Company 7 Alarmers. Willie dedicated 35 years to the Company 7 Alarmers where she served for 7 years as President. She served as chairperson on several committees and worked their Friday night bingo’s.
Willie is preceded in her death by her husband, Robert L. Sickle, Sr, her parents, Minnie and George Williams, her siblings Russell Ortman, Walter Ortman Jr., Robert Ortman, William Ortman, Gracie Hayes, Arlene Todorovich, Dorothy Clair, Richard Ortman, Marie Douber, Sonny Horacek, and a grandson Dylan Larson. She is survived by her children, Pamela Bryant of Broomes Island, Constance Palombi of St. Leonard, Victoria Smiley (Ray) of St. Leonard, Roberta Baker (Daniel) of St. Leonard, Robert Sickle Jr. (Julie) of St. Leonard, James Sickle (Samantha) of St. Leonard, and Thomas Sickle (Lisa) of St. Leonard, her sister, Charlotte Canter and brother Ronnie Horacek. She is also survived by 19 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild, and numerous nieces and nephews.
In Lieu of flowers – CONTRIBUTIONS
Independent Dialysis Foundation (IDF)
840 Hollins St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
or call 410-468-0900 for debit/credit card donation.