Wilma Jean Redding Bolen

Published 11:29 pm Monday, June 7, 2010

Wilma Jean Redding Bolen, 81, of Valdosta, died on Sunday, June 6, 2010, at South Georgia Medical Center after a brief illness. Born in Portsmouth, Ohio, on Nov. 13, 1928, she was the daughter of the late James and Eva Carr Redding. After completing her registered nurse training at Portsmouth General Hospital, she worked at the Ohio State Medical Center. She joined the Army Nurse Corps, U.S. Army, in 1950 and served throughout the Korean War. She met her husband of 56 years, John R. Bolen, Jr., in the Red Cross lounge at the U.S. Army hospital at Camp Pickett, Va., where he was recovering from combat injuries in Korea.

From 1971 until her retirement in 1993, she was a nurse at South Georgia Medical Center, serving as director of the Emergency Department for most of that time.  A faithful church leader, she was very committed to the Woman’s Missionary Union of the Southern Baptist Convention, holding numerous volunteer positions in Columbus and Valdosta. She was instrumental in establishing the ‘Operation Christmas Child Shoebox’ collection in Valdosta.  At First Baptist Church of Valdosta, she was a long time adult Sunday School teacher, youth volunteer and missions advocate.

Survivors are her daughter and son-in-law, Susan Lynne Bolen and Michael Henry of Gainesville; daughter, Anne Bolen Eanes of Valdosta; sons and daughters-in-law, Gary Andrew Bolen and Linda N. Bolen of Columbus,  Edward Roland Bolen and Susan Hare Bolen of Athens; grandchildren, Katheryn White, Elizabeth ( Brad) Rawlings, Drew Bolen, Sharon Eanes, Jonathan Bolen, Amanda Eanes, Mark Joseph Eanes, Phalan Henry, John Edward Bolen, Lillian Henry, Zo’’ Bolen; great-grandchildren, Taylor White, Mikael White, Ethan White, Bennett Rawlings. Mrs. Bolen was preceded in death by her husband, John R. Bolen, Jr.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, June 9, 2010, at First Baptist Church.  Dr. Phil West and Dr. Edward Bolen will officiate. Burial with Military Honors will follow in Sunset Hill Cemetery.  The family will receive friends at the Carson McLane Funeral Home this evening from 6-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church Missions Projects, 200 W. Central Ave. Valdosta, GA 31601. Condolences may be conveyed to the family on the obituary page of www..mclanefuneralservices.com. — Carson McLane Funeral Home