WILMA "BILLIE" JANETTE WILSON Eldred, N.Y. Mrs. Wilma "Billie" Janette
Wilson of Eldred, NY, long time resident of the area, died Saturday,
May 1, 2004 at home. She was 85. She was born April 18, 1919 in South
Bend, IN, the daughter of the late Harold Thomas and the late Marie
Dorothy Laufenburg Lake. Billie was married to the late Robert Goodrich
Wilson whom she married on March 27, 1943 in Seattle, Washington. He
died on March 28, 1977. She worked as President & CEO for Aquashade,
Inc., Eldred. While Billie was living in Dobbs Ferry, NY she was an
active member of the League of Women Voters, the Welcome Wagon, and
the Dobbs Ferry Historical Society. She was a member and Trustee of the
Eldred United Methodist Church, past Treasurer of the Highland Chamber
of Commerce, and was an active participant in the Highland Seniors
Group. Billie was an avid bridge player with the Milford Bridge Club,
and was a volunteer for the USO During World War II. Billie´s love
for the arts was shown with her support for the Delaware Valley Arts
Alliance (DVAA); the Tusten Theater, and the Cat Theater in Highland Lake.
Billie was also very giving to numerous needy organizations such as the
American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, Alzheimers,
Parkinsons, Churches, Police Departments, and Fire Departments. She was
also very active in her community as well as being active in life. She
took great pride in helping out her local community. She was a founding
member of the Highland Beautification Committee which is now known as the
Sullivan County Renaissance Community Improvement Organization. Billie
loved the outdoors and was an avid golfer, and cross country skier. She
enjoyed reading and loved to tend to her gardens. A family statement read:
"Our mom had a wonderful zest for life, and left her family a legacy of
appreciation for all that is good. As our Dad said, "they fought the good
fight, they finished the race, and they kept the faith." Billie loved
her children greatly and had many friends." Surviving are daughters Mary
Kathleen Starbard & her husband Don of Kings Beach, CA and Carolyn "Lucky"
Jean Haslam & her husband John Boyd Craig of CO, Deanna Gail Halliday &
her husband Clay Davis, of CA; son Thomas "Bud" Jeffrey Wilson of Eldred,
NY; daughter Janette Marie Hawkins & her husband Robert of Washington
DC; 8 grandchildren Maggie & Bobby Starbard, Christina, Amy & Rebecca
Rintoul, Scott Halliday, Connor & Abby Hawkins; brother Thomas "Bud"
Lake & his wife Nancy New Carlisle, IN; sister Dorothy Marie Kerver &
her husband Jack Houston, TX; brother-in-law & sister-in-law Charles &
Marion Wilson Milwaukee, WI; companion & fiance Louis Maudsley Eldred,
NY. She was predeceased by her son on Jan 8th 1968 In Vietnam War Robert
"Bobby" Charles Wilson; three sisters Carolyn Goss, Charlotte Esmay &
Helen Marie Lake.  Visitation will be Friday, May 7 from 2-4pm & 7-9pm at
Gray-Rasmussen Funeral Home, Route 97, Barryville, NY. Funeral services
will be Saturday, May 8th at 11 am at the Eldred United Methodist Church,
60 Airport Rd., Eldred, NY with the Rev. Linda Bohs officiating. A
private burial will be in the Eldred Cemetery, Eldred, NY. Memorial
contributions may be made to: American Legion Ambulance Service, PO Box
63, Eldred, NY12732 or Eldred United Methodist Church, 60 Airport Rd.,
Eldred, NY 12732. Arrangements By Gray-Rasmussen Funeral Home, Route 97,
Barryville, NY 12719 845.557.8010.  For information, directions or to
send a condolence note to the family visit www.grayparkerfuneralhome.com