Noren, Wilma Alice Babb 97 5/10/1912 6/19/2009 After a long and full life, Wilma Noren passed away June 19, 2009, at the age of 97. A mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she will be missed by all. Wilma was born May 10, 1912, in Buffalo, Mo., the youngest of 12 children. Her childhood was spent growing up on a farm near Buffalo, where they grew their own food, made their own clothes and were primarily self-sustaining. Before high school she moved to Pauls Valley, Okla. After graduating from the University of Central Oklahoma, she began her teaching career in a small town near Tulsa, Okla., where she taught elementary grades and coached basketball. It was during World War II that she met Arne Noren while teaching military men and women how to install propellers on the new B17 airplanes. They were married and after he was discharged in 1945 they moved to New York City and then St. Louis, Mo. In 1948 their family moved to Beaverton. Wilma taught elementary school in the Beaverton School District for over 25 years, touching the lives of many young school children. For many years she was responsible for teaching children the wonderful American tradition of wrapping the May Pole on May Day. Upon retirement, she continued her involvement in the schools, taught English as a second language through the Tigard Senior Center and was a member of the Tigard Retired Teachers Organization. Arne and Wilma spent time traveling to many places all over the world. They also both loved the time they spent at their home in Pacific City. Arne loved fishing while Wilma enjoyed walking on the beach in the early morning to see what the tide had brought in. Arne preceded her in death in June of 1999. Children, Karen Austin; Christine Richardson, and husband, Ed; and Richard Noren, and wife, Jo; grandchildren, Gregory and Jeffrey Austin, Matthew and Blake Richardson and Erik Noren and Emily Hernandez; and six great-grandchildren survive Wilma. A private family celebration of her life is planned. Published in The Oregonian on 7/5/2009