Alva L. Wilhelm, an educator who later became office manager for a family-owned fuel oil business, died Tuesday of complications from pneumonia at Carroll Hospice's Dove House in Westminster.

The Eldersburg resident was 85.

The daughter of Able Leonard Smith, a farmer, and Emmerzetta Gay Smith, a homemaker, Alva Lavinia Smith was born and raised in New Windsor.

After graduating in 1946 from New Windsor High School, she received a bachelor's degree in 1950 from Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa.

For about five years, she taught in public elementary schools in Baltimore and Carroll counties.

In 1955, she married William F. Wilhelm Jr., whose father established Wilhelm Energy Services Inc. in 1932. The Randallstown company, which initially sold coal, kerosene and motor oil, now sells fuel oil in Carroll, Baltimore and Howard counties.

Mrs. Wilhelm joined the company and she worked as office manager for nearly 50 years before retiring in the early 2000s.

Her husband died in 2011.

Mrs. Wilhelm was a member of Salem United Methodist Church in Hebbville and St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Sykesville, where she sang with church choirs.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Burrier-Queen Funeral Home, 1212 W. Old Liberty Road, Winfield.

Mrs. Wilhelm is survived by two daughters, Kimberley Pyles and Lynda Wilhelm, both of Sykesville; two grandsons; and a great-grandson.

— Frederick N. Rasmussen