Wilma Chaffin Loader, 100, died peacefully in her sleep at home in Lampasas on June 10, 2026.
Funeral services for Mrs. Loader will be held July 10, 2026 at 12 p.m. at Sneed-Carnley Funeral Chapel in Lampasas, with the Rev. Rick Willis officiating. Burial will follow at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen.
Preceding the funeral service, the family will host a visitation at 11 a.m. at Sneed-Carnley Funeral Chapel.
Wilma Lena Chaffin was born May 20, 1926 in Bosque County, the daughter of Lee and Irene Sparks Chaffin.
After graduating from Iredell schools in 1944, Wilma attended John Tarleton Agricultural College at Stephenville. She then attended North Texas State Teacher’s College in Denton where she earned a Bachelor of Science.
In 1946, she married Byron Loader, her high school sweetheart, with whom she spent two Army overseas tours of duty in Austria (1946-1949) and Germany (1951-1954). Upon returning from Europe in 1954, they lived in Norfolk, Virginia, until relocating to El Paso, Texas, in 1957.
Mrs. Loader taught three years in the Iredell public schools and 25 years in the El Paso school district. During her years in El Paso, she earned many honorary awards as a professional teacher. She co-authored a social studies program used in the curriculum throughout the El Paso school district; served on state textbook committees; donated time and knowledge to several student-teachers in the co-operative teaching programs; and chaired inservice meetings for teachers. Mrs. Loader was also a past president of her local Alpha Delta Kappa honorary teachers sorority.
After retirement, the Loaders moved to Lampasas in 1985 where Wilma was a member of First Baptist Church.
Survivors include her two sons, Michael and wife Susan of San Antonio, and David and wife Marcey of Lakeway; six grandchildren, Brian, Cheryl, Kevin, Shawn, Cameron and Cayman; eight greatgrandchildren, Katelyn, Kyle, Caleb, Eli, Brennen, Denali, McKinley and Breighten; her sister “Tink” Masters; as well as several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Byron; brother Nolan Chaffin and wife Eleanor of Iredell; and brother Alvin Lloyd “Buddy” Chaffin of Devine.
The family requested memorials be made to Iredell Baptist Church, Lampasas First Baptist Church or the charity of one’s choice.
