Rose was born to Edwin Wilson and Marie Redding in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in a time that truly seems long ago and far away. Herbert Hoover was the President and it was the middle of the Great Depression. Nevertheless, the Wilsons were a large family of fun, laughter and lots of love. Rose was the last survivor of the eight Wilson sisters. Alice, Ellen, Mary, Dorothy, Peggy, Kitty and Lillian meant everything to her. Of her three brothers, Eddie, Jackie and Bill, only Bill, who she always considered her co-conspirator, survives her. Rose dearly loved her brothers-in-law and her sisters-in-law Anita, Thelma and Doralee.
Rose is survived by her husband of 66 years, Ernest DeWitt. Marrying a career military man meant leaving her beloved hometown for many new locations, all of which she embraced. She was devoted to her husband and their three daughters: Nancy, Kathy and Cynthia. She was the best Mom ever. Rose was very proud of her sons-in-law. As could be predicted, she also excelled at being a Grandmother. When she became a Great Grandmother, she recognized that her great grandsons were the most handsome and intelligent of all human beings. She had over 40 nieces and nephews. Her heart was big enough to love a big family that just kept getting larger.
Though her family was her number one hobby, she loved to bake, knit and go on regular shopping expeditions, usually with a daughter. With the help of a far-flung family of fellow pranksters, she accumulated a large and cacophonous collection of battery-powered animated Christmas decorations. Perhaps her most revered development of the modern age was the Unlimited Calling Plan. She was Information Central to her far-flung relations, and would admonish them not to call, as she could call them without toll charges. Her Catholic faith and Danny Thomas led her to be an ardent supporter of the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis. She lived a happy and full life.
Her family and friends will gather at Hardage-Giddens, the Oaklawn Chapel, San Jose Blvd to say farewell on Wednesday, July 18, with visitation at 10:00am followed by a brief service at 11:00am.
