Obituary of Eloise Wilson

Eloise Wilson passed away at age 101 on January 11, 2022 in Lake Wales. She was

born on March 4, 1920 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Florence and Otto Sanaker

and moved to St. Petersburg in 1939 to help her mother run the William and Mary

Hotel. She met her husband, Herb, and they married in 1941.

She began the life of a pilot’s wife, living in Lakeland, Daytona Beach and Winter

Haven. Herb was a flight instructor at Bartow Air Base and they founded Wilson

Printing in 1960. She and Herb loved boating, especially going to Shell Island in

St. Petersburg, touring and camping in their RV.

Eloise enjoyed her family, bible study, oil painting and she would paint landscapes

at every camp site. She played the organ and was a member of Fletcher’s Melody

Makers and performed at nursing homes and talent shows at Lake Ashton. She was a

member of the DAR, Daughters of the American Revolution and the Havenettes

(Shriners).

Eloise was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert Wilson. She is survived by

her children, Barbara “Bunnie” (Mike) MeGahee and Carl “Buster” (Joni) Wilson.

Grandchildren Chris (Kim) Beatty, David (Robin) Parker, Amanda (Rick) Hilliker and

Matt Wilson. Great grandchildren David, Landon, Kelsey and Berkley Parker; Grace,

Mary Belle and Hope Hilliker; Camyrn, Paityn, and Emily Wilson, as well as our

Mrs. Wonderful, friend Deanna Morris, and caregiver Tammy Millington. Thanks to

Cousin Ann Meadows for all her help, and cousins Judy Kaylor, Lamar Blair and

Gordon Simons for their support.

Visitation will be at 12:00 p.m., on Wednesday, January 19th, followed by the funeral.

Service at 1:00 p.m. in the sanctuary at the First Presbyterian Church in Winter Haven.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, Tampa, FL.