Dorothy Darleen Wilson, 89, former Beaumont resident, died November 22, 2007, in League City, Texas, where she had resided since 1999.
She was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, on March 24, 1918, to Earl and Eleanor Robbins Osborn. Her maternal grandparents were both artists and Darleen enjoyed reminiscing about the many happy hours spent in their studio, where she developed a lifelong appreciation of art. Her mother was blessed with a beautiful singing voice and instilled a love of music in Darleen.
Darleen’s father, Earl Osborn, homesteaded in Wyoming, and Darleen and her two younger sisters attended schools in Casper, Wyoming, where she met and married her husband of sixty years, William Bertrand (“Bert”) Wilson.
In 1965, Bert was transferred from Casper to Beaumont to work for Mobil Chemical, whose facility was later acquired by Velsicol Chemical. Darleen was kept busy with her gift shop in the Red Carpet Inn on I-10 in Beaumont. Darleen and Bert enjoyed many happy years traveling in their motor home with friends and family until his death in 1997. They were members of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.
Darleen is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and grandson, William Bertrand (“Will”) Wilson, IV.
She is survived by her son, W. Bert Wilson, III of League City; daughter, Judy Wilson Rutledge and her husband Jim of Clear Lake; her two sisters, Betty Burke of Austin, and Marie Zaring of Cody, Wyoming; grandchildren, Deborah Rutledge Reichert and husband Robert, James Rutledge and wife Crystal, Laury Beth Rutledge Huff, Lisa Wilson Sever,and Robert Wilson; six great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Graveside service will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, November 26, 2007 at Magnolia Cemetery under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont.
Those desiring to do so may make a memorial contribution in Darleen’s name to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 680 Calder Avenue, Beaumont, Texas 77701.
