Wilma J. (Billie) Eisenhower Needham passed away July 29, 2021 in Topeka. She was the daughter of John D. Eisenhower and Martha E. Snyder Eisenhower. She graduated from D.C.C.H.S , Chapman High School in 1947. She taught at a county school near Elmo, Kansas for the 1947-1948 school year. On May 2, 1948 she married Robert A. Needham. They moved to Colorado Springs in September of 1948 for 2 years where their first child, Sheila, was born. They moved to Wichita in November of 1950 where he was employed at Beech Air Craft. Eventually they moved to Enterprise and later settled in Abilene where their 7 children went through Abilene schools.
Billie was known and respected throughout her family for how much she loved her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren and their spouses, and that she often told them so. She knew all of their names and recognized even the youngest ones to the end. She enjoyed looking after her grandchildren and great-grandchildren whenever she could. She was devoted to her family and spent many hours supporting her children, grands, and greats at sporting events and school programs, and she enjoyed outings and day trips with them. In Abilene she was the lunch lady and noon-time playground monitor at Garfield Elementary School for years. She later worked as a daycare teacher and was an advocate against bullying in schools. She diligently studied her Bible almost daily. She was a woman of faith and a member of the Church of Christ. She taught Sunday school for years. She volunteered as a Gray Lady at the hospital and at the Abilene Smokey Valley Railroad. She was proud that she had traveled to Newfoundland, Canada. She loved playing her piano and played programs at nursing homes and class reunions into her nineties. She said her piano practice helped the arthritis in her fingers feel better and kept her fingers more limber. She spent her last year and a half at Abilene Place where she enjoyed the company of friends and staff members. Her family often joked about her unique method of writing notes on pieces of scrap paper. When she got to the bottom of the paper, she would continue up the side margin, across the top and down the other side. At least one daughter sometimes continues that practice.
Billie is survived by her daughters, Sheila Spielman of Lyons, Kansas and Sandy Paulson (Rod) of Abilene. Five sons, Gary Needham (Carol) of Abilene; Loyd Needham (Carol) of Abilene; Scot Needham (Dayna) of McPherson; Wade Needham (Lola) of Abilene; Phil Needham (Shelley) of Freeman, Missouri. 19 grandchildren plus spouses, 33 great-grandchildren plus spouses, 3 great-great grandchildren. One sister-in-law Margie Keith. She was preceded in death by her parents, loving husband Robert, grandson, James Jacob Needham, son-in-law Robert Spielman and 7 siblings.
Funeral services for Billie will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, August 4, 2021 at the Salina Church of Christ Church in Salina (1646 N. 9th St). A private immediate family inurnment will be held at a later date. Family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 6-8 p.m. at Danner Funeral Home. The family suggests memorials be given to Salina Church of Christ or the Abilene Smokey Valley Railroad Association. Memorials may be dropped off or mailed to Danner Funeral Home, 501 N. Buckeye Abilene, Kansas