I am in your age bracket, and I remember party lines. Not sure we had a Wilma, but I do know our mother discouraged us from eavesdropping. My dad was born in 1909, and he had some interesting ways of answering the phone when he was in the mood. He would say, "Bill's Beanery" or "Dottie's Doughnuts" if he felt like it.
My parents were both born during the Depression. Was interesting times back then. Those born in the late 1800s and early 1900 who lived to a 'senior' age sure saw a lot of major changes in their time.
I looked back over some of the changes my uncle had lived through when he turned 100 last year. It really is stunning to realize how much of how we live has changed so radically in what is a comparatively short time period.
My Uncle wont allow anyone to call him old.. thus the 'senior' use.
My dad lived to age 99. He, too, saw incredible changes over the years. And even when he was in his 90s he didn't want to go hang out at the senior citizens' center because there were "too many old people there." He and your uncle must have been cut off the same hunk of cloth!