Wilma Cobb

PORTLAND — Wilma S. M. Cobb, 87, died on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, at her home.
Wilma was born on June 24, 1930, the daughter of the late Willy and Maria Nee (Karsten) Topp of Brooklyn, N.Y. Wilma’s parents decided to move back to Steinau/Strassdeich, Germany with Wilma when she was only a year old. Wilma grew up in Germany and attended local schools. In 1947, when she turned 18, Wilma decided to move back to New York, staying at her aunt and uncle’s home, Erna and Ernest Berwing. Wilma’s parents came back to New York around 1953 to join the family. She worked as a merchandise buyer for B. Altman and Bergdorf Goodman in New York. Through her work, she was able to travel, which she greatly enjoyed.

Wilma met and married the love of her life, Clyde Cobb, and they married at the Plaza Hotel in New York on March 5, 1966. Wilma and Clyde lived on Read Street, and then in 1972, moved to Chenery Street. After she moved to Portland, she worked as a buyer for Porteous Department Store, in the bridal department and then ladies coats. Former bridal customers from previous decades would see Wilma in the community and she would remember them as well.

When she wasn’t working, she enjoyed vacationing at the Trapp Family Lodge in Vermont, cross-country skiing, and getting together weekly with the Chenery Street knitting group. While the other women were knitting scarves and blankets, Wilma was knitting tiny hats for the babies at Mercy Hospital, those who were homeless, or local school children. Wilma would light up a room with her smile; she was the ultimate selfless giver.

Wilma was a lifelong learner; she loved to try new things. She always kept up with current events and was an avid history buff.

Although she never had her own children, she took on the role of a loving grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother, and treated them as her own. Her family remembers going on special trips in Alfred at Gile’s Family Farm, and handpicking strawberries and blueberries in the area together. Her blueberry muffins were baked with love and well known in the Cobb family. Wilma was not only great at baking; she also made her famous 25-plus lbs. of butternut squash for the Cobb Thanksgiving every year. Everyone would get together at the American Legion Hall in Gray so she and Clyde could spend the holidays with Clyde’s side of the family.

Wilma was predeceased by her husband, Clyde, in 1998; and many cousins.

She is survived by two grandsons, Stuart Cobb of Florida and Ricky Cobb of Bridgton; three great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; four cousins in Germany; and Clyde’s family of Gray. She will be missed by many friends.

A funeral service was held at 10 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 12, 2018, at the Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland. Burial will be held at a later date.

To view Wilma’s memorial page, or to share an online condolence, please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com

Memorial contributions may be made in Wilma’s memory to: Park Danforth, 777 Stevens Ave., Portland, ME 04103.