A Story about the Life of Wilma Jean McFarland
(as told by Carla Crippen at Wilma’s funeral in 1982)

Wilma Jean McFarland was one of five children born to Daniel and Alzina McFarland in Iowa around 1894. The family moved to Oregon in the early 1900’s, where Wilma attended school in Grants Pass. She obtained her teaching credential in Oregon. Her graduate work was done at Washington State College, San Jose State and Columbia University. In 1918, after visiting her sister in Modesto, Miss McFarland decided to relocate here. She soon was hired to teach at Modesto High School. Later, she was among the first group of teachers at Modesto Junior College, and became the chairman of the Domestic Sciences Department. Wilma was instrumental in the planning of new classes, the use of teaching methods based on the interests of the students, and in “going beyond the call of duty”. As reported in the Sept. 26, 1952 edition of the college newspaper, The Collegian, “She was a devoted teacher and her sole concern was the students”.

Miss McFarland established the first Girl Scout troop in Stanislaus County. The girls she helped to learn scouting are now grandmothers. Here interest in working with girls led her to open her own camp in 1933. Camp Talawanda, located at North Lake Tahoe, became the place where campers and counselors, for eight weeks during the summer, could live, learn and enjoy nature together. She continued to be the director of the camp, enriching the lives of one hundred or more girls each summer, until she retired in 1969. A reunion of girls attending Camp Talawanda during those thirty-six years was held in January of 1979. At least seventy people attended the special event, many coming from across the country to pay tribute to “Birch”, as she was called at camp. Others sent flowers, telegrams, and letters to express their appreciation and love for her.

After twenty-six years of service, Wilma retired from Modesto Junior College in 1952. She continued down the path of assisting others. She was a charter member of the Major Hugh Moss Chapter of the D.A.R.. She became even more active in civic groups such as the Grange and the Methodist Church. Later, she purchased a cattle ranch in Placerville and went into the business with her adopted son, James Helms. She became a realtor in Placerville and in Modesto. She passed her broker’s test with high honors . She challenged the gender barrier by taking and passing the test for Justice of the Peace when it was a male only office.

In 1941 she was recognized as an outstanding woman in Modesto’s business and professional community by the Modesto Tribune Newspaper. “She takes matters in her own hands and stands up and does things”, said the article. Forty-one years later this was still true of Wilma McFarland. Her strength and vision was a comfort to all who knew her. Her energy and enthusiasm for living was a model for all who came in contact with her. The Tribune article closed with “If the Recording Angel is taking notes, he will say to the traveler who reaches the gates simultaneously with Miss McFarland, ‘you go on, travel some more; it will be awfully dull for you here, but she is different. We need people like her to cheer and comfort the other angels.’”

Wilma McFarland died June 1, 1982, leaving family and friends, a legacy of strength, generosity, enthusiasm and concern for all people, especially the young. James Helms, Ellen Crippen, Ellen Newton, Shirley D’Andrea, Melinda Gonsalves and Carla Crippen are among her family members.