Margaret R. Wilson

Obituary of Margaret R. Wilson ALBION - Margaret Roberta Sechrist Wilson, age 92 of Albion/Brockport died 11/26/13 at Unity Health Care System in Greece following a long illness. Margaret, "Peg" was born in Greenville, South Carolina, on June 26, 1921, the daughter of the late Joel Eugene Sechrist and Leila Truesdale Sechrist of Elmira, NY. Margaret began her early schooling in Elmira, NY but attended a total of 26 schools in four states following her father's job relocations. The family moved to Ellenville, NY in 1936 and Margaret proudly received her high school diploma there. Both during and after high school she worked as a telephone operator in Ellenville and later, following relocation, became head cashier at the Gorton Coy store in Elmira. After her marriage to John Wilson in 1941, Margaret raised two sons, one during the war years while John served in the US Army. After her second son was born, Margaret worked for the Remington Rand Division of Sperry Rand for twelve years soldering type. For five years she was in electronics, wiring the first high speed printer that Univac made.
Determined to make an even better life for her children, in 1961, Margaret went to work on a provisional appointment as a Correction Officer. She was quickly recognized for her talents and was promoted to Sergeant in 1967, and Lieutenant in 1976. She worked seven years at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in NY and was then transferred back to Albion Male Institution in 1977, finally retiring in 1980. During her employment at the prison, Margaret's duties included working at the Attica facility following the uprising there. During her tenure at the facility, she completed two semesters of college courses at Genesee Community College. She also attended many training and leadership courses in Canton (St. Lawrence University), Rochester, Albany (Russell Sage College), and Stony Point, NY. She belonged to the Bobbins Home Bureau Unit in Elmira for 10 years. While there, she took leadership classes in pressure cooking and tailoring and taught the same to her unit. She was also an active volunteer for AARP activities; served on the board for Nutrifare and was a member of the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church in Albion. Margaret easily made friends and was always busy writing and receiving hundreds of letters; attending family reunions; visiting friends and relatives and touring this country. She was an avid collector of semi-precious stones and jewelry and loved growing roses. She loved her family deeply and she will be greatly missed by them and by all who knew her.
Surviving are her two loving sons, James Eugene Wilson (Joan) of Dundee, NY and Jerome Craig (Rosemary) Wilson of Albion, NY; her grandchildren Kyle Wilson of Buffalo, NY and Laura Wilson Standish (Ron) of Albion, NY and her great-grandchildren Brayden and Gavin Standish of Albion, NY. She was predeceased by her ex-husband John Wilson of Elmira, NY.
Margaret's family would like to give special thanks to the staff at The Landing in Brockport, NY where she lived for almost 10 years and had a very special connection to several people. They would also like to thank the wonderful staff of both Wegman's Cottages and Lifetime Care who were with Margaret during her last weeks. There will be no prior calling hours.
A Memorial Service for Margaret will be held at the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church in Albion on January 5, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Margaret's name would be most welcome especially for Lifetime Care, the Pullman Church or a charity of your choosing. Visitation
none Services
Memorial Service January 5, 2014 2:00 p.m. in the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church-Albion, New York Interment
Privately in Mount Albion Cemetery