Sharon E. Wilson, 84, of Galesburg, Illinois died Thursday, April 16, 2020 at Heartland Health Care Center, Galesburg, Ill.
Sharon was born November 21, 1935 in Columbus, Nebraska, the daughter of Charles H. and Muriel (Martin) Sheldon. She is survived by her husband, Douglas L. Wilson; a daughter, Cynthia A. Wilson (married to Charles Peters) of Evanston, Illinois; a son, Timothy C. Wilson of Chicago, Illinois; a sister, Ann Voss of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and two grandchildren, Sarah Wilson Peters and Dylan Wilson Peters, both of Chicago . She was preceded in death by her parents, and by her older sister, Patricia Taylor.
Sharon moved with her family in 1947 to Lincoln, Nebraska, graduating from Lincoln High School in 1953. She attended Doane College in Crete, Nebraska, where she met her husband. Both were English majors and graduated in the class of 1957. They were married June 8, 1957 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Sharon was first employed by Provident Mutual Insurance Co. in Philadelphia, Pa., where her daughter, Cynthia, was born. The family came to Galesburg in 1961, where her husband joined the Knox College faculty. From 1962-66, she served with her husband as dormitory head residents, during which time her second child, Timothy, was born.
Sharon qualified in college to be a high school English teacher, but decided as a mother of two young children to work as a pre-school teacher instead. She began her career in the Head Start program at Carver Center and continued for many years at Community Nursery School. She retired from pre-school teaching after 22 years with the determination to pursue a long-standing desire to learn how to weave. Throughout her retirement, she continued to develop her weaving skills, learning how to spin her own yarn, and maintained a valued association with the local weaving guild, Tromp As Writ.
In addition to weaving, Sharon was an avid gardener, both in Galesburg and at the family farm in Wisconsin. She was a wonderful cook and hostess; her family and friends looked forward to dining at her table on all occasions. She loved to sing, and was especially welcomed in group singing because she preferred to sing harmony, something she practiced in her life as well.
A memorial will be announced at later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Knox College. Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Service Galesburg Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be offered at www.h-p-w.com.
