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Hope Wadsworth Gilliam died on May 1, 2008. She was born to J.M. and Frances Wadsworth in Tulsa, Okla., on April 29, 1928.

She studied English Literature at the University of Kansas where she was a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority. El Dorado was her home when she met Air Force Capt. Julian Gilliam on a blind date during a college break. They were married on April 15, 1950, and had recently celebrated their 58th anniversary.

Following marriage, Hope found an outlet for her prodigious creativity in painting. After the Gilliams moved to Little Rock in 1964, she continued to mature as an artist and studied at UALR as well as the Arkansas Arts Center. She garnered numerous awards for her work. Her paintings and prints have been acquired by private collectors across the country. Several museums have also purchased Hope’s artwork.

Subsequently Julian retired and they began to travel extensively. During this time, Santa Fe, N.M., became a second home, where Hope blossomed in the artistic community and made many close friends.

She died peacefully at home almost three years after experiencing a massive stroke. The family would like to acknowledge the dedication, loving care, and friendship given by Debra Anderson, Rudy Grimes and Theresa S. Vogelpohl, MNSc, RN, thus allowing Hope to remain in the home she loved.

Survivors include her husband, Julian; daughters, Betsy and her husband, David Trapp, of Lawrenceville, Ga., and Julie and her husband, Peter Roth, of Boston; grandchildren including Betsy’s children, Maria Trapp of Herndon, Va., Becky Trapp of Long Island City, N.Y. and Davey Trapp of Lawrenceville, Ga; and Julie’s children, Ellen and Chris Roth of Boston.

A memorial service will take place on at 1 p.m. on May 24 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1000 N. Mississippi St., in Little Rock.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Arkansas Arts Center, the Pulaski County Humane Society or to the donor’s favorite charity.

Arrangements are being handled by Ruebel Funeral Home in Little Rock.