Marilyn (Maxim) Wilson

SAN ANTONIO – Marilyn (Maxim) Wilson, 92, affectionately known as “Mother Dear,” went to be with the angels on April 15, 2021 at home in San Antonio. She was born Nov. 13, 1928 to Walter and Doris (Ellingwood) Maxim in Bethel. The family later moved to South Paris, where she graduated and later attended business school before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force.

She was the voice of reason, stability and peace in our family. She wasn’t an outwardly expressive type of mom, but she didn’t need to be because we all felt her love. Through her gifts of cooking and baking, handcrafting blankets and afghans, endless acts of service and her forgiving heart she expressed her love not only to her own family, but to countless family friends who she welcomed in, treating them as their second “mom”.

She married Air Force MSgt.George Wilson in 1951. Together, they lived and traveled around the world, serving their country and raising five children.

We are proud of her lifelong service to our country, first in the Air Force, where, then as the wife of a diplomat, along with multiple civil service assignments, and finally as a citizen of the Greatest Generation. Much of her work in civil service was in military libraries as she had a passion for reading and learning which she shared with us all. Until the end of her life she faithfully read the newspaper and her Bible devotions, cooked (or least shared her secrets), kept her home tidy, grew and tended to her beautiful flowers, hand wrote countless cards and letters and shared her love of family history with her children and grandchildren. Underneath her gentle, shy demeanor her sharp-witted, comical character was revealed, which made herself and those around her laugh every day. With her Maine accent and colorful Yankee expressions she entertained us with stories of the good old days and her adventures living and traveling around the world.

Marilyn will be forever missed by her children Melanie Wyma (Caledonia, Mich.), Valerie Wilson (Kennewick, Wash.), Paul Wilson (Johnson City, Texas), Leslie (James) Howe (San Antonio); her nine grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; dear sister, Pearl Hamlin, brother-in-law Merton Jones and sister-in-law Sylvia Ellingwood, along with all those with whom she shared her light.

She was predeceased by her husband, George Wilson; stepson, Craig Wilson, and daughter, Rosalie Wilson; her parents, Walter and Doris Maxim; brothers Harold and Timothy Maxim, Wayne Ellingwood, sisters Thelma (Maxim) Holden and Barbara (Maxim) Jones.

Our family would like to thank the gentle home health caregivers, Texas Healthcare Solutions, Avionn Healthcare and VITAS Hospice, who gave Marilyn and her family such compassionate care.

The military honors funeral will take place at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery, Shelter #3 in San Antonio on Friday, May 14, 9:30 a.m. A reception for family and friends immediately following from 10:30-12 p.m. at Northridge Park Pavilion, 821 Chevy Chase, San Antonio.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to

Wreaths Across America,

San Antonio Chapter,

P.O. Box 460043,

San Antonio, TX 78236.