Willna Zweifel 1923-2016
Willna Fordice Zweifel, 92, Topeka, died Monday, Feb. 22, 2016, at Saint Francis Hospital. She lived at Brewster Place for many years.
She was born Oct. 16, 1923, at Smith Center on a farm and moved to Topeka in 1936 with her family. She graduated from Seaman High School in 1941.
Willna married DeVere Woodruff in 1943, and they were divorced in 1957. They had two daughters: Carol A. Ellis (Jim) and Mary L. Gooderl (Roger).
Willna worked several years at Menningers for a Doctor as his secretary.
In May of 1960, she married Delbert Zweifel at the Hoyt Methodist Church. They lived on a farm north of Hoyt. They had one son: Charles R. Zweifel (Pam). They later moved to Topeka due to Delbert’s health. They were married for 35 years prior to his death in 1995.
She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Topeka.
Surviving in addition to her three children are her sister, Doris Davis at Brewster Place; 11 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Delbert; brother, Bernard “Bub” Fordice; her parents, Russell and Eunice (Parnell) Fordice; and a great-granddaughter, London.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 26 at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, 245 N.W. Independence Ave., Topeka. Interment will be held in Hoyt Cemetery.
Willna will lie in state after 3 p.m. Thursday at the funeral chapel, where the family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, 600 S.W. Topeka Blvd., Topeka, KS 66603. To leave a special message for the family online, visit www.PenwellGabelTopeka.com
(PAID OBITUARY)
