Carol Jean Wilson

CAROL J. WILSON Oct. 4, 1929 – June 4, 2023 Carol Jean Wilson, 93, passed peacefully in her sleep at Awbrey Place Memory Care in Bend, Oregon. Carol was born in Steubenville, Ohio, the daughter of JW “Bill” and Grace Martin. During WWII, the family moved to Phoenix so her father could work in the war plant, and then on to Central Oregon where her father had lived and worked when he was a teen. Carol attended her junior year at Redmond Union High School and played trombone in the high school band. She married Jack J. Wilson a WWII returning veteran, in Madras, Oregon on April 26, 1946 and they spent some early years in Redmond, Oak Grove, West Linn, Oregon, Leominster, Massachusetts and Cloverdale, California. They settled back in Tumalo, and then Bend for the remainder of their years. Carol worked for the Arrow Shirt Factory in Massachusetts, was the cook along with her mother at Tumalo School for several years, then worked in the business office at Central Oregon College, where she retired in 1987. She was very active volunteering for years in the Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary, the American Legion Auxiliary, and the Bend Breakfast Club, and performed in Sweet Adelines. After retiring, she and Jack spent several years snow-birding in Arizona, and travelling around much of the country in their motorhome. She was an amazing documentarian for all their travels, as well as a great seamstress and knitter. She also loved reading, walking with Leigh Anne, and participating in 5K-walk benefit events. She is survived by daughter Carol Yvonne (Denny) Drury, Granddaughter Leigh Anne (Philip) Denney, Grandson Will (Becky) Drury, great-grandsons Will “Jack” Harris and Dennis Richard Drury, all of Bend, and sister Jacquelyn Wilson of Winston, Oregon, and several nieces, nephews and bonus great grandchildren. She was pre-deceased by her husband, her parents, and sisters June Gill Martin and Ruth Emily Weeks. Carol’s friends and acquaintances are invited to a celebration of her life at the home of Denny and Yvonne Drury, 63521 Boyd Acres Road, Saturday, July 8, 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to Humane Society of Central Oregon and Central Oregon Veterans Outreach are suggested.

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Carol Jean Wilson

October 4, 1929 - June 4, 2023