Beatrice Jean Wilson

Beatrice Jean Sniff was the youngest of nine children. She was born in Niagara, NY on Nov 15, 1921. She met and married James Wilson in St. Joseph, MI he was visiting his sister, Maybell, on her peach farm north of town. He'd go into town to the movie theater, where she was an usher. While she was helping people up and down the aisle with a flashlight, he was watching her. He saw the same show, night after night! He would walk her home at night, but dates always had a chaperone. They were married in Dec in a snow storm. He was suffering from dengue fever, but he says it was because he’d married a “hot” woman, he called Miss Bea. They would have celebrated their 70th anniversary. Jim and Bea were blessed with three daughters and a son. They have nine grandchildren and many great grand kids and great-great grandchildren. They travelled all over the world while he was in the Army Air Corps (USAF). Patriotism was in her legacy, on her father’s side going back to the Revolutionary War, serving on the ship New Jersey, under the leadership of George Washington. During WWII she embodied “Rosey the Riveter” as she worked in a factory making gas masks. She married Jim who served in the military for over 30 years. She kept the family going while he served in Korea., Vietnam, and many TDY’s. While they were stationed in Bermuda, she designed the logo for the Hurricane Hunters, which is still in use today. She shared her artistic talents throughout her life. While they lived in Arkansas, she won the neighborhood Christmas decorating contest several years in a row. This was through her creative efforts, no store bought items. She would get very creative in making Christmas, cookies and candy, to share with everyone. To the family, her talents we limitless! She made our clothes, created a home, and cooked everything Dad brought home (ducks, geese, squirrel, rabbit, big game, and fish). Miss Bea also became an avid outdoors woman and sportswoman. Jim taught her to fish and she ended up being the better angler. In her 70’s she joined a bowling league and became a champion with many games over 200. She enjoyed the great outdoors and brought natural elements in to her landscaping. Mom’s Agape love will live on in our lives.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient, and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustices but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful , and endures through every circumstance.

1 Corinthians 13:13 Three things will last forever- faith, hope, and love- and the greatest of these is love.

How will her love live in you?