Ramona Aveline Wilson

Ramona Aveline Wilson was born to Jennings Bryan Mason and Floy Ethel Mason on September 19, 1928, in a tent in an oil field near Wink, Texas. Having a difficult childhood gave her strength of character. As a very young girl she contracted both Diphtheria and Typhoid Fever. Her parents divorced when she was three years old. All of this occurred during the midst of the Great Depression.

Her childhood was spent mostly with her mother in various parts of North and West Texas. She spent the World War II years in Denton and Fort Worth, where her mother worked as a "Rosie the Riveter," in a factory producing aircraft for the war effort. At the same time, Ramona worked as a waitress in a caf in the downtown Fort Worth Montgomery Wards. During this time, one of Ramona's favorite pastimes was going to the local railroad tracks with her aunt (who was two years younger than her) and waving at soldiers passing through Fort Worth on military troop trains.

In 1946 she left Texas for an extended visit to her father in Modesto, California. While serving milkshakes in a Modesto diner, she met the love of her life, Jesse Burl Wilson, who at the age of 23 had recently become the youngest Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy. Ramona and Jesse married six weeks later.

For the next twenty-three years, Ramona was a devoted Navy wife. She raised three children while moving frequently from one naval base to another. A highlight of her life was three years spent in Hawaii.

Ramona and her husband lived in Albertville, Alabama from Jesse's naval retirement in 1969 until his death in 1982. Shortly thereafter, Ramona moved to San Antonio, Texas, where she pursued a love of gardening by becoming a certified nurseryman.

She was an active and engaged woman throughout her life. Her interests included supporting her children's various activities, bowling with her husband (she once carried a 184 average), round and square dancing, and her beloved dachshunds and other pets.

She is survived by her children, Barbara Lynn Bolton, Sharron Marie Allen and Arthur Dale Wilson. She is also survived by her son-in-law Jim Bolton, former son-in-law Corky Allen, daughter-in-law Jamie Wilson, numerous grandchildren through great-great grandchildren, as well as her best friend Norma Becker and her hairdresser of 25 years, Sally Simpson-Przybylski.

Ramona's wish was that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Diamond Dachshund Rescue of Texas, PO Box 17736, San Antonio, Texas 78217.

The family would like to thank Gentiva Hospice for the love, care and comforting they provided during the final days of her life.

Services will be held in Albertville, Alabama.