Wilma Dean Flud

Wilma Dean (Pierce) Flud died in Dallas, Texas, peacefully in her sleep on August 10, 2025, at the age of 100. She was born in Eastland, Texas, on March 5, 1925, the middle child to Frank Pierce and Vesta Mae (Pierce) Pierce. Surrounded by music in the home, Wilma developed a deep love of music and art. She and her sister, Frankie Mae, started singing with their father in the church choir at a young age. Wilma was a classically trained soprano and served as the principal soloist for several churches. She played the piano and violin, received her BA in Music and Humanities from the University of Evansville, Indiana, and taught music in public schools in Sperry and Panama, Oklahoma. She also taught private voice lessons, and sang in and directed church choirs until she was in her early 80’s. She painted and was a prolific writer of poetry and religious articles meant to stir people into action for the Lord wherever there was a need. Wilma married Cecil William Flud, a handsome Air Force pilot, in 1951. They lived in many places due to Cecil’s military service, including France for several years during the Korean crisis. Their son, David, was born in Germany. In the late 1970’s, Wilma and Cecil took early retirement due to Cecil’s declining health and moved to Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, from Poteau, Oklahoma. She was a member of the Village United Methodist Church, a Koinonian of Arkansas, a member of the Poet’s Roundtable of Arkansas, and worked as a volunteer for the Regional AIDS Interfaith Network and Levi Hospital Hospice. She was also a member of the Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity for Women. Wilma continued to live in Hot Springs Village following Cecil’s passing in 1986 until 2012, when she moved to Dallas, Texas to be closer to her daughter, Elaine, and her family. In addition to her husband and parents, Wilma was preceded in death by her son, David Kent Flud; her sister, Frankie Mae (Pierce) Sanders and spouse, Bill; and her brother Bobby Durant Pierce and spouse, Wanda. She is survived by her daughter, Elaine Flud Rodriguez, and her grandchildren, Amanda Rodriguez and spouse Matthew Padgett, and Samuel Rodriguez and spouse Elizabeth Rodriguez, all of Dallas, Texas. She is also survived by her four precious great-grandchildren, Lucas Dean Rodriguez, Zoe Grace Rodriguez, Rhea Elaine Padgett-Rodriguez and Nadine Kent Padgett-Rodriguez; as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins. The family would like to thank the wonderful caregivers at Sunrise on Hillcrest and Hospice+ for their steadfast care of Wilma. Wilma will be laid to rest next to Cecil and David at the CedarVale Cemetery in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. A memorial service will be held at 2 pm on September 7, 2025, at Walnut Hill Church in Dallas, Texas.

Wilma Dean Flud

March 5, 1925 - August 10, 2025