Eva Mathilda Wilke Zahn Wilson Christen, of Cypress, Texas, was born on February 20, 1924 in downtown Houston and passed away peacefully on May 10, 2020. She was the daughter of Mathilda and Reinhald Wilke and the oldest of their three children. She lived her younger years in an area called Shady Acres. She attended school in the Heights and graduated from Reagan High School in the Class of '41.
Her father was president for 36 years of Cypress Gun and Rifle Club (Tin Hall). Some of her fondest memories from her youth included weekly events here. They would dance, bowl and target shoot. As she grew up, her love of dancing continued and she reveled in knowing all the steps to different types of music.
Eva married Baldwin Zahn in 1944. Baldwin was an accountant for The Texas Co. (Texaco). They had four children together, two sons and two daughters. During this time, they moved their family to Cypress and started a ranch raising cattle. Her husband Baldwin suffered a heart attack and died after 19 years of marriage, leaving Eva and the children to run the ranch.
Eva found love again with Elroy Wilson, a long time friend she had known since she was a teenager. They were married in 1970 and continued to run the ranch and care for the children. Eva and Elroy enjoyed traveling, whether local or overseas. She loved keeping written details of every stop on each journey. After the children were grown, Eva went to work for the Cypress-Fairbanks school district, where she worked for 18 years as secretary for the "best boss ever." During their nineteenth year of marriage, Elroy passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack.
In 1991, Eva married Donald Christen of Cypress, Texas. When they weren't with family, they enjoyed spending time at the local VFW hall,
attending church functions and getting together with friends to play games. During the 20+ years after Donald's passing, we often teased her about getting married a fourth time. Since Baldwin had served in the Air Force, Elroy was a Marine, and Donald was a Navy man, she needed to "find herself an Army man to marry." She always laughed at the thought of it but remained single until her passing.
Eva was a loving daughter, sister, friend, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She will be remembered as a vivacious lady who never met a stranger. She loved meeting people, hearing their stories and sharing her own. When she wasn't dancing or visiting with others, she was playing dominoes, cards, Bingo or any other game she could talk others into playing with her. She rarely showed up at an event on time but made up for it by being the last to leave. She lived life to the fullest and loved all the wonderful people she met along the way.
Eva is preceded in death by her parents, Reinhald and Mathilda Wilke; her husbands, Baldwin Zahn, Elroy Wilson, and Donald Christen; son, John Paul Zahn; sister, Juanita Kurtz; and brother, A.C. Wilke.
Eva is survived by her children, Geneva Featherstone, Priscilla Zahn and husband Benjamin White, Baldwin Zahn and wife Janell; grandchildren, Jamie Featherstone, Jennifer Martinez and husband Jesse, Jolene Featherstone, Mac White and wife Ali, Liz Grant and husband Chris, Alec White and wife Mackenna, Eric Zahn and wife Kate, Theresa Gertson and husband Daniel; great-grandchildren, Jenna, Johnny, Julia, Jill, Gavin, Avery, Cal, Nate, Eva, Tate, Wilke, Riley, Hunter, Ruby, and Parker; step-daughter, Candace Galindo and her husband Augie; several loving nieces and nephews; and friends galore.
Eva's family will receive friends and loved ones during a visitation period* from 10 AM - 1 PM on Friday, May 15, 2020 at Klein Funeral
Home, 9719 Wortham Blvd., Houston, TX 77065. She will be laid to rest in Woodlawn Cemetery immediately following the visitation.
In lieu of the flowers, the family requests memorial contributions in Eva's memory be directed to Christ United Church of Cypress, 14207 Telge Road, Cypress, TX 77429.
*If you are attending the funeral home visitation, visitors are required to wear a mask, and only 10 people will be admitted to the funeral home at a time.