It was there that her life changed forever after a simple knock on the door. Local businessman and former Mayor Charley Wilson—a decorated WWII veteran who served in the Pacific Theatre—had heard of the beautiful young woman at Preacher Lane’s. He arrived at the parsonage under the clever guise of needing to borrow a typewriter. Their courtship was swift and certain; just three months later, Charley proposed on the Oklahoma side of the state line on the way to Fort Smith, ensuring their future began on the soil he loved so dearly. They were married on March 1, 1952, and shared over forty-six years of devoted marriage.
Virginia’s truest joy was her family. She was the hearth of the Wilson home, raising her children with fierce love and a gentle spirit. She was a woman who loved to hold her children close, a practice she continued throughout her long life. In 1990, she embraced the role of “Nana,” creating a home so warm and welcoming that her granddaughter famously declared, “There’s no place like home, except for Nana’s.”
A longtime and devout member of the First Baptist Church in Heavener, Virginia’s faith was her guiding light. Even in her later years, she remained deeply connected to her church family. She recently shared a final testimony that reflected her lifelong love for her Lord and her profound gratitude for the friends who never forgot her during the years she was unable to attend services.
Virginia dedicated much of her life to her community and her faith. Her hobbies included teaching Sunday School and Bible studies, singing in the Methodist and Baptist church choirs, ministering in local nursing homes, and praying for people in the area. Many will remember seeing Virginia walk for many years on the high school track in front of the Wilson home, and those who live on the ridge will remember how she loved to keep beautiful gardens where she could feed her many birds.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Charley; an infant son, Samuel Leslie; and her parents, Emmitt and Goldie Vaught of Sedalia, Missouri.
Her legacy of love and faith is carried on by her lifelong sister and friend, Margie Davis of Broken Arrow; her three dearly loved children and their spouses, Donna and her husband Marcus Conyers of (Siesta Key) Sarasota, Florida, Sam Wilson and his wife Leslie of Mt. Ida, Arkansas, and Carla Cogburn and her husband Pat of Heavener; three cherished grandchildren, Carla’s daughter Cortney and her husband James Payne of Heavener, and Sam’s sons, Sean and his wife Monica, and Clancy, all of Mt. Ida; two nieces, Tracy and her husband Alan Wheeler, and Leigh Ann and her husband Luke Barnes, all of Broken Arrow, and a nephew, Mike Wofford and his wife Carol of Oklahoma City; as well as a community of friends whom she loved like family.
All viewing will take place at the Dowden-Roberts Funeral Home in Heavener, Oklahoma. Viewing hours will be from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 12th, and from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 13th.
A celebration of life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 14, at the First Baptist Church in Heavener, Oklahoma with the Reverend Brock Hardin officiating. Burial will follow at the Heavener Memorial Cemetery under the direction and care of Dowden-Roberts Funeral Home in Heavener, Oklahoma.
Pallbearers will be: Sam Wilson, Clancy Wilson, Sean Wilson, James Payne, Kenny Duncan, and Richard Johnston.
Honorary Pallbearers will be: Marcus Conyers, Mike Wofford, Mike Andrews, Josh Cruse, Farrell Duncan, Johnny Johnston, Danny Love, Bill Pitchford, Harold Sanders, and Hank Stripling.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Gideon Bibles in honor of Virginia Wilson.
To sign Virginia’s online guestbook please visit www.dowdenrobertsfuneralhome.com.
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