Keith and Wilma Stump Endowment
Benefiting the RUMC Counseling Center
The RUMC Counseling Center
Life is full of ups and downs, challenges and change. The center was established by loving members of the RUMC and it remains a vital part of the local community supporting anyone who needs it. It includes independent practitioners to help navigate life’s challenges. Gifts to the Counseling Center support scholarship to help cover the therapy costs for those affected by addiction.
Meet Keith and Wilma
Keith and Wilma have spent a lifetime of great companionship. They met in high school, went to college apart, married, raised a family and simply enjoyed each other. Their hearts are HUGE!
Keith was a gentleman that kept his cool under pressure and maintained a dry quick wit. He always committed to doing a great job at whatever he pursued and adapted well to all kinds of people. Keith is remembered as a quiet and kind person who always gave a friendly smile to everyone.
Wilma is the sidekick full of wonderful conversation, stories and laughter. She has one of those sunshine personalities that welcomes everyone to her. She enjoys people and absolutely adores children. Her patience is off the charts!
Together they lived a great loving partnership. It was the love they share for their adopted sons and birth daughter that inspired them to open an endowment and designate the earnings to the RUMC Counseling Center.
“Keith and I witnessed the devastation addiction can cause to individuals and to their families. We also were fortunate to experience the positive change that can occur with rehab and follow-up counseling. I would hope our funds would enable addicts to realize their potential and to receive the support they need to stay addiction free in the years ahead.” - Wilma Stump, 2022
Keith and Wilma married on August 24, 1963 in the New Madison Evangelical United Brethren Church. Featured here at their son's wedding, 2003.
Keith graduated from New Madison High School in 1959.
Keith loved to fish and especially enjoyed teaching his sons to love the sport as much as he did.
Together, Keith and Wilma enjoyed traveling to many parts of the United States with good friends from Wisconsin, Iowa, and Georgia.
Keith enjoyed his career in engineering. Keith went to Ohio University in Athens, Ohio and graduated in 1963 with a BS in Electrical Engineering and a MS in Electrical Engineering from Purdue. Upon graduation, Keith was employed by Allis-Chalmers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The family moved to Waukesha, Wisconsin and he began to work in electrical power systems. Keith continued to work at Allis-Chalmers, which became Siemens-Allis, which became Siemens. Then in 1979, Siemens transferred us to Georgia. Keith worked for Siemens for 36 years in their Power Transmissions and Distribution area, retiring from them in 2001. He then began work for Power Engineers and worked for them until retiring in 2013.
They both attended the New Madison School from 1st to 12th grade. Keith graduated in 1959 and Wilma graduated in 1960.
Wilma is from New Madison, Ohio and lived on a farm with her parents, Guy and Oneda Daugherty and her sister Naomi and brother Keith.
Keith was born and raised in the area of New Madison, Ohio. Keith lived in the little town of New Madison with his parents, Emil and Wanda Stump, and his brother Neil.
Wilma graduated from New Madison High School in 1960 and went to Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio and graduated in 1963 with a BS in Elementary Education. She began teaching 1st grade at Jefferson Elementary for two years and one year at Franklin Elementary which were part of the West Allis-West Milwaukee School System. In the fall of 1980, Wilma began teaching at North Roswell Elementary School, first in the 2nd grade, then 3rd grade and finally 4th grade. She retired as a teacher from Roswell North Elementary in 2007.
Keith, Wilma and the children joined the Roswell United Methodist Church in 1980 and have actively attended since.
Keith and Wilma bought their first home in New Berlin, Wisconsin and soon had their first child, Kimberly Kay, who sadly passed 2 days after birth: Sept. 1967. Then less than a year later, they welcomed their daughter, Jalene Kay who was born on August 14, 1968. They then adopted a son, Craig Ray, who was born on August 24, 1970. Then Kent Douglas was adopted who was born on January 3, 1974.
In 2012, Keith was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and spent the next eight years juggling doctor’s visits, infusions, and pain, but Keith never complained. He played bridge 2-3 times a week, read mysteries and trade journals, helped around the house, and enjoyed his family and friends.
“My parents are two of the most loving, supportive, and compassionate people I have ever known. They are always there for family, friends, and even strangers. They adopted me in 1974, and provided me with a wonderful childhood full of love. In my late teens/early 20s, I spent nearly 2-decades struggling with drug addiction…with no hope in sight. Thanks to their love and support, I completed addiction treatment and completed my bachelors degree. For the past 8-years, I am employed helping others within the addiction field. I am truly grateful to my mom and dad for never giving up on me. My parents were there for everyone throughout their lives. and with this endowment grant, their love will be there for others even after they are both gone. I love them both so much!” - Kent Stump, 2024 - son
“I am thankful dad always took the time to help me grow as a person whether I was with schoolwork, practicing sports, developing hobbies such as fishing and camping or just being there when I needed love and support. Their influence has helped me instill many great qualities in my own child. I will love them both always. ” - Craig Stump, 2013 - son
