The Obituary of Margaret Anna Erickson Wilson



Margaret Anna Erickson Wilson, known affectionately as Marge, a 40-year resident of Severna Park, Maryland, died on August 15, 2008, at the age of 87 at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. She had suffered a stroke. Her husband, Lt. Colonel Thomas John Wilson, had predeceased her in 1993. She will be buried with him at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Mrs. Wilson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 15, 1921, the first born of three children to Edward Erickson and Margaret Cargen Erickson. Mrs. Wilson grew up near the Jersey shore, graduating from Ventor Avenue Grade School, Atlantic City High School, and Atlantic City Business School. In 1936 she performed the current dance craze called the "Big Apple" with a troupe of her friends at the Atlantic City Convention Center, site of the Miss America Pageant, now called Boardwalk Hall. She was a telephone operator with Bell of New Jersey, a PBX operator at Woodward and Lothrup, and a real estate agent with Century 21. After marrying Thomas Wilson during World War II on September 16, 1943, she became a proud Army wife. She followed her husband with their three small children all over the world. Among the Army assignments were stays in Heidelberg, Germany; Paris, France; California; Arizona; and Virginia.

Mrs. Wilson was a member of the Retired Officers' Wives Club of Fort Meade, the Officers' and Faculty Club of the United States Naval Academy, a past president of the Westridge Garden Club, and a congregant at Saint Martin's-in- the-Field Episcopal Church in Severna Park.

Mrs. Wilson is survived by her devoted children and their spouses: Wendy and Bill Cummings of Alexandria, Virginia; Tom and Colleen Wilson of Scottsboro, Alabama; and Margianne and George Hill of Bow, New Hampshire. She was a loving grandmother to her seven grandchildren and her nine great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her best friend and sister Doris Erickson Cassell and her fun-loving Cargen cousins of Texas and New Jersey. Her three Cassell nephews and their families will miss their Aunt Margie. Mrs. Wilson's brother, Edward H. Erickson, predeceased her in 1994.

The generation that lived through the World War II era has been called by historians "The Greatest Generation." This is certainly true of Mrs. Wilson. Throughout the hardships of Army life, including the two wars in which her husband fought (World War II and the Korean War), she managed to create a home filled with joy and laughter. She loved playing bridge with her friends and hosting parties. She adored her children and her husband and devoted her life to making their lives as wonderful as she could. She was a helpful and gracious friend to all.

The family wants to especially thank Veronica Mackall for the outstanding care she gave "Miss Margaret" in the past two years.

The Barranco and Sons Funeral Home in Severna Park is handling the arrangements. There will be no calling hours. A funeral service will be held at Saint Martin's-in-the-Field Episcopal Church on Benfield Road in Severna Park at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 23rd. All who knew this remarkable woman are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation in Mrs. Wilson's name to the charity closest to your heart.

The interment at Arlington Cemetery will be Wednesday, October 1, preceded by a memorial service at 9:00 AM at Grace Episcopal Church on Russell Road in Alexandria, Virginia.