Wilma Miller Spurr

Longtime Norwalk resident Wilma Spurr, aged 96, reached the end of a long, loving and Christian life and went home to the Lord on Saturday, October 15th. The daughter of Fred and Ruby Langhammer of Stratford, she attended Stratford schools and worked at the Bridgeport Brass Company inspecting shell casings just prior to WWII. It was there that she met her first husband, Eugene G. Miller. The two were married in 1940 and raised five sons and two daughters.

When her husband's early death left her with seven minor children in 1962, Wilma went to work at the Howard Johnson's restaurant in Darien, where she developed a large and loyal following of customers who were charmed by her kindness, wisdom and gentle humor. Originally too shy to ask her customers' names, she named them after their favorite menu item: Mr. Griddlecakes, Mr. Apple Pie, and Mrs. Coffee Soda. Eventually a group of her customers named themselves Wilma's Breakfast Club, meeting daily at the counter for breakfast, coffee and conversation. Wilma had an uncanny ability to remember each customer's birthday, and would surprise them with a cake and candles on their special day. When she retired at the age of 81, she had worked behind the HoJo's counter for nearly 40 years.

In 1965 she remarried, serving as mother to second husband Everett Spurr's son Ray Spurr and daughter, Lynda, and as a loving grandmother to their children.

A woman of strong faith, Wilma was member of Norwalk's Community Baptist Church for 62 years. Later in life she enjoyed collecting dolls and limited edition plates, and traveled to Japan, Italy and Yugoslavia. She spent her last years living with her daughter, Anita Love and son Karl, and enjoying her growing group of great grandchildren.

In addition to both husbands, she was predeceased by her brothers Paul, Fred Jr., Charles, Albert and Robert Langhammer, sisters Anita Peebles and Marion Blackwell, and her beloved grandson James S. Love.

Wilma is survived by a sister, Lillian Coffey of Kansas; five sons, Ronald E. Miller (Noreen) and Karl F. Miller of Norwalk; Edward E. Miller (Nancy) of Plano, TX; Roger W. Miller (Lorene) of Roswell, GA and Charles R. Miller of Wallingford, and two daughters, Judith Shanner of Bridgeport and Anita Love of Norwalk.

Surviving grandchildren include Carrie Miller; Tim Miller; Rebekah Quisenberry;
David Miller; Elizabeth Miller; Kimberly Robinson; C.G. Miller; Aubrie Love and Jennifer Vaughn. Wilma also has six great grandchildren: Madison Love Berisha;
Iain Miller; Jackson Love; Olivia Robinson; Zachary Vaughn and Alba Carela-Love. Wilma's passing is also mourned by a great many nieces and nephews throughout the United States and a wide circle of friends.

Visiting hours will be on Tuesday October 18th from 5pm to 8pm at the Spear-Miller Funeral Home in Fairfield. A funeral service will be held at 11am on Wednesday, October 19th at the Community Baptist Church on East Avenue in Norwalk, followed by interment at Riverside Cemetery. A reception will be held in the Fellowship Hall of the church after the burial service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Wilma's memory to the Deacon's Fund of Community Baptist Church. For information or to sign an online guest register please visit www.SpearMillerFuneralHome.com