About Lela May Zimmerman
Lela May Zimmerman passed away June 9, 2023, in her home in Mesa Arizona. She was born to Thomas Elmer Donaldson and Hazel Reatha Carlin at Peru Township, Miami County, Indiana. Her death was the result of numerous old age medical issues with which she dealt. She was the second child of seven children; the other six were all boys; Norman Lee, Kenneth Leroy, Keith E., Elmer Leon, Larry Dean and Glen Edward. Sole-survivors are: Kenneth and Larry. Lela graduated from Chippewa High School in 1950.
Following graduation, Lela and a girlfriend of hers from Wabash, Indiana chose to take a trip to California. They eventually made it to El Paso Texas, where she eventually ended up as secretary to the chief nurse’s office at William Beaumont Army Hospital. It was during this time (1954), Lela and Walter Zimmerman met, eventually marrying in February of 1955. They eventually had six children: Kathryn, Daniel, Eric (Deceased), Lisa, Jan and Dennis, 17 grandchildren, and 22 great grandchildren.
In addition to her great dedication as wife and mother for 68 years, she served for over 28 years in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints as a young woman’s teacher and advisor, occasionally interrupted by calls to serve such as relief Society president and an additional term as councilor to the Relief Society President. She was dearly loved by the young women she taught. Over the years Lela and her family lived in El Paso, Texas, Philadelphia, PA, Tempe, AZ, and finally, Mesa, AZ.
Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com . Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com , please check our website for accurate details and service information.