Wilma L. Platz

Wilma Louise (Bell) Platz, 94 years old, of Wilmington, Delaware and Leesburg, Virginia, passed away peacefully on December 5, 2023 after a very full life filled with love of God, family, friends, and community.

Born in 1929 in Corpus Christi, Texas, she married James Bernard (J.B.) Platz in 1955 in Houston, Texas. They were happily married for 58 years until his death in 2013. She and J.B. were blessed with three devoted children: son, Stephen, and daughters, Stephanie and Jeanne´.

Wilma was a wonderful wife and mother as well as a life-long volunteer, all roles she thoroughly enjoyed. While living in Texas, she volunteered, and often was the lead, in countless activities associated with her children’s school, St. Pius V, their sports teams, and the Junior Forum, a women’s volunteer organization dedicated to addressing the needs of children and families through direct service and fundraising. She was elected and served as President of the Junior Forum in 1968-1969.

She continued her volunteerism in Wilmington, Delaware, when her husband was transferred by DuPont in 1972. There, she was active at her daughter’s schools, St. Mary Magdalen and Padua Academy as well as The Ministry of Caring. Along with her friends, she helped prepare and serve nutritious meals to several hundred guests at Emmanuel Hall Dining Room and spearheaded a variety of fundraising efforts for the Ministry for over 30 years. For her dedicated service, she and J.B. were recognized for their outstanding service on behalf of the poor and homeless by the Ministry.

Wilma was also a consummate homemaker, well known for her elegant entertaining, interior design flair, and fashion style, having worked as a model in her younger years. She was a voracious reader and traveled extensively throughout her life. Her last overseas trip was to Ireland at the age of 93 years old.

The daughter of the late Agnes Mary (Juroska) and George W. Bell Jr., Wilma grew up in West University Place, Texas and attended the University of Houston. She was employed by Gulf Oil as a bookkeeper prior to her marriage.

Wilma is preceded in death by her husband. J.B., son-in-law, Corwyn Havermans, sister, Lillian Roman, and step-brother, George Bell, III. She is survived by her children: Stephen Platz of Wilmington, DE; Stephanie Platz-Vieno and her husband Mark Vieno of Savannah, Georgia; and Jeanne´ Platz Havermans of Arlington, VA; and four grandchildren, Elizabeth Ravert and her husband, James Ravert; Ian Platz; Stephen Vieno and his wife, Anna Stroh Vieno; and Jack Davis Havermans. She also was able to enjoy two great grandchildren, Miles and Silas Ravert and many other very special relatives and friends.

The Funeral mass will be held on Thursday, December 21, 2023 at 10:30am at St. Joseph on the Brandywine, 10 Church Road, Wilmington, Delaware, 19807. A visitation will be held prior to the service at 9:30am and at the conclusion of the mass, the committal service will be at St. Joseph’s cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in her honor to The Ministry of Caring ministryofcaring.org are respectfully requested.

The family would like to thank the staff at Spring Arbor Senior Living for their special care of Wilma during her years there. Wilma will be dearly missed by her family and her many friends.