Wilhelmina "Billie" H. Westbrook

Wilhelmina “Billie” H. Westbrook of Waukesha passed away on Friday, December 29, 2023, at her home at Oak Hill Terrace at the age of 92. She was born in Fredericksburg, VA on December 25, 1931, the daughter of William and Rosalie (Smith) Herndon. She grew up in Alexandria, VA and graduated in 1949 from George Washington High School and then attended Mary Washington College of UVA. She married James Stuart Barrett in December 1951 and during their marriage Billie worked for the Pentagon in Virginia. Stuart passed away in 1960 of Lymphoma. Billie, a single mother of three children, continued to work for the Army and then the FCC for a time.  In 1964 she married William R. Westbrook. The family then moved to Waukesha, WI in 1970. William Westbrook passed away in 1992 from lung cancer. Always on the go, Billie worked many jobs including senior administrative positions for the editor at the Milwaukee Journal and RTE Asea (now Prolec-GE).  She had a love for animals, especially cats, which led to her also working for Kuenzi Family Pet Hospital for many years. Despite many setbacks in life, Billie had a wonderful life and many fun times.  She loved vacationing with her family on the beach in North Carolina, and loved Christmas which was also her birthday. She had a beautiful voice and was an accomplished pianist, which meant music always filled her home.  Billie was a talented seamstress, an avid reader, enjoyed crossword puzzles and a good cup of coffee with her many friends. Billie’s faith was important to her and was an active and longtime member of First Baptist Church of Waukesha. 

She will be missed by her children, Michele (Jeffery) Brown, Robin (Elizabeth) Westbrook, Jennifer (William) Tabb and William (Joyce) Westbrook; her grandchildren, Miranda (Rob) Meyer, Robin (Milton) Rivera, Adam (Danielle) Brown, Aaron (Lauren) Brown, Janelle Westbrook, Lily Westbrook and Eliza Westbrook and great-grandchildren, Kamryn, Elaina and Sophia Meyer, Gabriela Rivera and Norah Brown; and surviving nieces and nephews, Mariane Herndon, Jean (Brewer) Eddy, John (Betsy) Bennett and Michael (Kim) Bennett.  In addition,her to her husbands, James and William, she was preceded in death by her granddaughter Laura Westbrook, sisters, Anita Beasey and Elizabeth Ann Bennett; and nephew, Rick Bennett. 

Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 4, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Memorial service will follow immediately after visitation at Randle-Dable-Brisk Funeral Home, 1110 S. Grand Ave., Waukesha.  In lieu of flowers, memorials in Billie’s name are appreciated to First Baptist Church of Waukesha, 247 Wisconsin Avenue, Waukesha, WI 53186.