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Ethel Wilson
Ethel Mildred (Simpson) Wilson, a True Arizona Pioneer, 100+ years of age, passed away on Sept. 30, 2009, with her children by her side.
Ethel was born on Dec. 23, 1908, in Tucson, Arizona Territory, to Sidney Theodore Simpson from Floresville, Texas, and Tinina Mildred (Bercich) Simpson of Parker Canyon, Arizona Territory.
She grew up on the Bercich, La Osa, and Manistee (Sands) Ranches. She also lived in Tucson, Bisbee, Tombstone, Tempe, Ft. Grant, Bowie, Eloy, Bagdad, Sun City, Peoria, and Glendale. She attended ASU "Class of 1931."
She met her future husband while attending ASU's summer session, which was held on the ASC campus in Flagstaff, Ariz. She passed the State Teaching Certificate tests and took her first full-time job teaching nine grades in a one-room school in Fairbanks, Ariz.
Ethel married Norman Albert Wilson on May 15, 1932.
Her brother Theodore (Ted) Simpson, her husband, Norman, and her parents, preceded Ethel in death.
Her daughter, Norma Ann Reinier of Mountain Home, her identical twin sons, Donald A. Wilson of Thatcher, Ariz., and Dennis A. Wilson of Lake Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, her niece, Sylvia Burton of Tucson, Ariz., six grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren survive Ethel.
Ethel was awarded Life Member Status for the Order of the Eastern Star. She served as Matron at both the Bowie Chapter and the Eloy Chapter. Ethel was a member of the Elks Ladies Auxiliary in Wickenburg, Ariz., and her dad, Sid T. Simpson, was a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks (B.P.O.E.).
Ethel concluded her professional career and retired as business manager for the Bagdad Unified School District in Bagdad, Ariz.
Ethel had an inquiring mind and sharp memory until the time she passed on.
She learned to use her first computer at age 90 and enjoyed e-mailing family and friends.
Ethel, as a teacher, believed in helping children to learn to read and worked very hard to provide good books for public school children.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made in Ethel Wilson's name to the Bagdad Arizona Unified Public School District Library, P. O. Box
427, Bagdad, AZ 86321-0427.
Please visit her memorial website at http://www.MeM.com and sign her guest book.
Cremation ws by Camino del Sol Funeral Chapel and Cremation Center in Sun City West. Ethel will be inurned at the Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City, Ariz.