Wilma “Willie” Dustin, 91, died Friday, Dec. 6.
She was born in Portland, Ore. to Virgil and Lois Waggoner. She was an active and athletic young lady riding her bicycle, hiking and swimming in the frigid local streams and even the Pacific Ocean.
She was a Home Economics major at Oregon State College (now University). It was at Oregon State that she met the love of her life and future husband, Dale “Dusty” Dustin. They married in August 1943 and their only child Patty was born in October 1944. Her husband served in WWII and during the Korean conflict. When her husband went back to work for General Mills they lived in Lodi and Tustin. They moved to Oakdale when her husband became plant manager of Hunts. She called Oakdale home for 50 years.
Long before the emphasis on healthy eating, she prepared delicious meals with healthy eating in mind. In their Oakdale home, one could sit at a bar overlooking the kitchen while having a cocktail and watch her work her magic. She always had a project or two going, thus she told her husband she “married him for better or worse, but not for lunch.”
Mrs. Dustin’s projects were many and varied: sewing, spinning, weaving, knitting, and even tatting, and the crossword puzzle. She spun yarn, even using Samoyed hair, then she wove that yarn and used the material to make many things, including clothing. She belonged to The Weavers Guild and Re-Weavers for many years.
She sewed most of her own outfits and knitted many sweaters for herself and family. She also hand quilted a tablecloth and seat cushions. Another love was making teddy bears. Many of the bears had names like Honey Bear and Waldo. They came in sizes from three inches to a foot or so tall. Some looked like curly bears, others were like velvet.
She loved to tend her garden, growing vegetables, herbs and lots of flowers. Her home was always a welcome haven for friends and family.
She is survived by her daughter, Patty Lorang; grandchildren, Mike and Laura Lorang; and great-grandchild, Madysen Lorang.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dale.
A celebration of life will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at the House of Beef banquet room, 227 N. First Ave., Oakdale.
Remembrances may be made in her name to Community Hospice, 4368 Spyres Way, Modesto, CA 95356; or to the Oakdale Library, 151 South First Ave., Oakdale, CA 95361.
