Barbara Jean Wilson's Obituary
Barbara (“Babas”)was born February 22, 1934 in Forrest City, Arkansas to Maurice and Evelyn Wilkins and passed away September 6, 2014 in Dallas, Texas. Barbara was a successful claims administrator for Social Security Administration for over 35 years, a career she loved. She assisted many of her fellow human beings in need with navigating the federal system, gathering and transcribing the proper documents for many clients who were forever grateful for her kindness, compassion, and laughter. She grew up in Arkansas, graduating high school in Ponca City, before moving to Memphis to work for the newspaper there. She met Dan Wilson in a coffee shop where her mother worked, and married him three months later in Hernando, Mississippi. It was 1953. October 4, 2014 would have been their anniversary. Her beloved father passed away a few months before her first child, daughter Angela, was born. A year and a half later, a son, Dan Jr., was born. Being a military family, they moved quite a bit, finally living for several years in Amarillo, Texas, where Barbara met Melva Azbell, beginning a friendship that has lasted until this day. Melva and Big Chuck, little Chuck and Debbie, were the best family friends, but the military called and Dan, Barbara, and the children moved to Denver, Colorado. Barbara’s mother, Evelyn, married Marvin H. Garris in 1956, and lived in Dallas, Texas. Marvin had a daughter, Margie Dickey, who, along with her wonderful family, Bob, Kelly, Cindy and Jeff, became another wonderful gift for the Wilson family. Margie hosted the most wonderful holidays,and since Barbara had absolutely no interest in or aptitude for COOKING, this was a holiday match made in heaven. But outside of holidays, Barbara and Margie were the best of friends. Margie passed away ten years ago and left a void in Barbara’s life. But there is much laughter in heaven now that they are together. No doubt about that! Dan retired from the military and the family moved to Mineral Wells, Texas for a few years. Finally, in 1971, the family moved to Dallas permanently. The rest of her life was filled with friends and grandchildren, shopping at Steinmart, Chico’s, and Macy’s, teas with her best friends, Shirley Henry, Stella Morris and Lynda Peugh and countless others. She went to her high school reunions where she still had so many friends, including Fran Herndon. Nobody could forget her beautiful dark hair, her red lipstick, and the fact that she was always beautifully dressed and jeweled, no matter what time of day or where she went. To pick up a prescription she dressed up as much as when she went to a play or a musical. She loved musicals and movies. She loved Hollywood and never missed the Oscars. Most of all, she loved her “stories”. She and Melva talked long distance about their “stores” weekly. Barbara had a very special place in her heart for her ex daughter-in-law, Debe Plumb Trout. They talked or visited weekly for over thirty years. A generous person, Babas loved to gift gifts and flowers to her many friends. To say that she loved cats is an understatement. She LOVED cats. No doubt Barbara Wilson is at the Rainbow Bridge today looking for Fluff, Missy, Dumplin and Little Man. She will lovingly be remembered by her husband, Dan Wilson; daughter, Angela Wilson; son, Danny Wilson; grandchildren, Jennifer Collier and husband Ryan, Kimberly Wilson; and 6 great grandchildren, Megan Susanna and Amelia Collier, Brennyn, Kylie and Conner Duffy. She is preceded in death by her granddaughter, Felicity Collier. Funeral Service will be held at 12:30 pm, Wednesday, September 10, 2014 at the Wildwood Chapel at Restland Funeral Home, with interment to follow at Restland.
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