Martha Blackwell Wilson

December 25, 1918 - November 23, 2013

Mrs. Wilson passed into the loving arms of the Lord on Saturday, November 23 at the young age of 94. She was born on a snowy Christmas day in Goldendale, Washington to Alex Davis and Ruth Fosdick Davis. She moved many times up and down the west coast with her family as her father was a lumber broker finally settling in Alameda, California. Mrs. Wilson graduated from Alameda High School in 1936 and from Lick Wilmerding College in 1938 with a degree in fashion and merchandizing. In 1940, she married her high school sweetheart, M Sgt. (Ret.) Bert Blackwell. At the outbreak of World War II, M Sgt. Blackwell joined the U.S. Army and while her husband was overseas, Ms. Martha joined the U. S. Marine Corps attaining the rank of Corporal. For the rest of her life, she was extraordinarily proud of being a Marine. At the end of the War, Mr. Bert chose to stay in the military and the family was stationed in Okinawa, Oklahoma, Texas and the Netherlands. Ms. Martha was always able to set up a complete home at a new post in 48 hours. She made friends easily and loved the military life always finding each new assignment an "adventure". Ms. Martha loved children and was both a private and public school kindergarten teacher for 40 years. She enjoyed painting, but her real talent was knitting. Most members of her family and many friends were the recipients of her afghans, bed booties, warm caps and mittens and Christmas stockings. She was also a superlative bridge player and found pleasure in playing board and card games and loved parties. She attended the local Episcopal Church wherever the family was stationed and was active in the altar guild, women's group, taught Sunday school and volunteered with the youth group. Her strong spirit and joy for life carried her through the grieving time following the death of Mr. Bert on Christmas Day, 1997. In 2003, at the tender age of 86, Ms. Martha met the second love of her life, Mr. Wesley C. Wilson. They were married and enjoyed retired life together until Mr. Wilson's death in 2006. Ms. Martha was loved and will be missed by her children: Stan Blackwell (Gwen); Liz Miller (Jon); her grandchildren: Katherine Ann Blackwell (Joe Caprario); Michael Richardson Blackwell (Kelsey), and her great grandchildren: Arlo and Gram, and "Spike" who will arrive in May, 2014. Several nieces and nephews remember her with fondness: Bill, Jim, Laurie, Christine, Ann, Pat, Gary, Jeff, Chris, Andrea, Michelle and their families. The family appreciates the loving care provided to Ms. Martha by Julia Flores and Hermina Petersen and are especially grateful for the love and dedication of all the staff at County Place Assisted Living and Memory Care Unit. A service celebrating the life of Mrs. Martha Blackwell Wilson will be held on Thursday, January 30, 2014 beginning at 11:00AM at St. James Episcopal Church, 206 W. Greenwood, Del Rio, Texas; the Rev. John C. Fritts, celebrant. Full military honors will be accorded Mrs. Wilson at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery on Friday, January 31, 2014 beginning at 11:00AM. In lieu of usual remembrances, the family requests that memorials honoring Mrs. Wilson, be made to St. James Episcopal Church P.O.Box 1129, Del Rio, Texas 78841-1129. Semper Fi, Little Marine! Funeral arrangements with G. W. Cox Memorial Funeral Home, of Del Rio LTD, 114 Fletcher Drive, Del Rio, Texas. 78840 Ph: 830.775.2000