Lucille Bertha Powers Wilson

Lucille Powers Wilson, age 90, passed away at Warsaw Health and Rehab on January 27, 2012. Lucille was born January 22, 1922 in Staunton, Virginia to Lillian Walton Powers and George Waite Powers. She grew up in McDonald, OH and graduated from McDonald High School in 1939. She attended Eastern Kentucky State and Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, TX majoring in Music and English. She was a very talented musician, playing almost all instruments, but mostly the piano and marimba and most recently the organ. One of the highlights of her college career was playing in the University Cowgirl Band and performing all over the Southwest. In 1942, she was united in what was to become a 54-year marriage to Army Captain Mathew “Bill” Wilson and in 1943 one daughter, Billie Jean, was born. After the war, in 1946, the family settled in Kansas City, Missouri and Lucille began a very successful 40-year supervisory career with Montgomery Ward. She was one of the earliest women in management for the company and traveled all over the country helping the other MW regions refine their Returned Goods and Customer Service departments. Lucille was a 60-year member of White Avenue Methodist Church where she and Bill taught Billie’s Sunday School class and was a 50-year member of the Northeast / East Gate Chapter, OES, serving as Worthy Matron in 1959 and several state offices through 1965. The last 36 years she was very active in the Heart of America Button Club and the Missouri State and National Button Societies. She was a member of Independence Pioneer Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. Her parents, three siblings, husband, a niece and three nephews preceded her in death. Lucille is survived by her daughter Billie and husband Mike Canfield, Warsaw, Missouri; three step granddaughters Amy Hathaway (Mike), Lenexa, Kansas, Sarah Canfield, Overland Park, Kansas and Erin Fletcher (Doug), Overland Park; three step great-granddaughters, Reagan Hathaway, Jayme and Maddy Fletcher; numerous nieces and nephews from all over the country and scores of friends. Many will miss her smiling face and helping hands including her newest “family” at Warsaw Health and Rehab where she resided since September, 2011. A special thank you to these very special caring and compassionate individuals. Visitation will be at 2:00 p.m., followed by a funeral service at 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 1, at Mt. Moriah & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Wayside Waifs, 3901 Martha Truman Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64137 or the UMKC School of Pharmacy Mathew “Bill” Wilson Scholarship Fund, 2464 Charlotte Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64108. Condolences may be offered at www.mtmoriah-freeman.com.