Wilda B Newman

Wilda Bowers Newman, 82, died on April 5, 2025 at Gilchrist Hospice Center in Columbia, MD. Born in Elizabethton, TN, Wilda was a daughter of the late Samuel Murray Bowers and Eunice Bowers Carr. In addition to her parents, Wilda was preceded in death by her step-father, Frank Carr, and a brother, Samuel Bowers, Jr. Wilda is survived by her husband, Edward, to whom she was married for 62 years; their son David Samuel Newman (Gail), also of Columbia; sisters Bobbi Bowers Leonard, Florence, SC; Judy Seymore and Kristi Carr, both of Elizabethton; Karen Gilmore, Kernersville, NC; brother Jerry Carr, of Elizabethton; and six nephews.

Wilda obtained a Business and Management degree from the University of Maryland, and a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from Catholic University of America. Wilda worked for 35 years with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, where she spent the first half of her career with the R.E. Gibson Library, the technical reference library at APL, and the second half as a Technical Program Manager of computer systems. Starting as a Library Assistant, Wilda moved into progressively more responsible management positions, including Associate Librarian, Librarian, Section Supervisor in the Technical Services Department, and eventually Information Resources Manager and member of the Senior Professional Staff. Along the way, Wilda was responsible for many major projects, including merging the Library Acquisitions and Technical Services Sections, and automation of the Administrative Services Department, among others.

Wilda was a long time member of various professional organizations, including the Special Libraries Association, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, and the American Society for Information Science.  She was inducted into the Special Libraries Association’s Hall of Fame in 2004, an award given in recognition of her extensive professional work with the organization, including serving on its Board of Directors for several years.  Wilda also was named a SLA Fellow in 1997, an award that acknowledged her leadership and outstanding contributions to the association. Over the course of her career, Wilda presented on topics relevant to her work at conferences and workshops in the United States and various parts of the world, and authored more than 40 publications, including books, book chapters, journal articles, reports, and brochures.

Following her retirement, Wilda founded Knowledge Associates Resources, LLC, a consulting group specializing in knowledge management, project management, writing, editing, and education. In addition to her consulting work, Wilda contributed to the academic community by teaching graduate courses in knowledge management at Catholic University of America.

When she wasn’t working, Wilda’s hobbies included gardening and landscaping, reading, enjoying good food and wine, and especially international travel, which dovetailed nicely with enjoying good food and wine. Wilda was known to have strong opinions about many things, and was never shy about voicing them, but was also a good and thoughtful listener, as well as a kind and generous wife, mother, sister, and aunt. Her family will dearly miss her. While Wilda’s essence is impossible to capture in words, the Hopi prayer sounds like something she would say at this time:

Do not stand at my grave and weep;

I am not there. I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken the morning’s hush,

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry;

I am not there, I did not die.

Family and Friends are invited to call at Witzke Funeral Homes Inc., 5555 Twin Knolls Road. Columbia, MD 21045 on Thursday, April 10, 2025 from 2 to 4 p.m.and 6 to 8 p.m. There will also be a Celebration of Life on April 13, 2025 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Kings Contrivance Restaurant. Inurnment will take place in Tennessee on April 19, 2025.