Viola Wilson's Obituary
Viola Hilma Wilson, a longtime teacher in the Hayward Unified School District, passed away at the age of 98 on April 15, 2019 at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Walnut Creek, CA. Born near Selma, CA to Sophus (an immigrant from Denmark) and Meta (a first generation Danish American), Viola grew up south of Fresno with a many Danish relatives and friends. She attended Reedley College and Fresno State University, taking her first job in 1942 as an elementary school teacher in a one room schoolhouse near Reedley. She frequently corresponded with her sweetheart, Wilbur A. Wilson, who served in the Philippines during WW2.After his return from the war, they were married in June 1946 in Parlier, CA and made their first home in Niles, CA. Wilbur accepted an apprenticeship as a civilian airplane electrician at the Alameda Naval Air Station and they moved to into an small apartment built as temporary housing for military families. Her first son, Robert, was born in 1947.In 1950, determined to accumulate enough savings to move into her own home, she attended classes at San Jose State University (commuting by bus from Alameda) and renewed her teaching credential. Still commuting by bus, she taught for a year at an elementary school in Hayward, saving enough money to buy a new home in that city.She gave birth to second son, Philip, in 1953 and her third son, Brian, in 1957. In 1960 Viola began taking classes at California State University, Hayward, and again renewed her teaching credential, eventually obtaining a full time position teaching second grade at Bowman Elementary School. She retired from this job in 1981, having educated a generation of young students.Viola was a loving and devoted wife and mother. She and her husband enjoyed camping and exploring the natural beauty of the United States and Canada. Celebrating her Danish heritage, Viola was active in the Danish Sisterhood and Dania. After Wilbur’s death in 2007, she continued to live in her house in Hayward, but with advancing age eventually moved to Livermore Valley Senior Living Center.She is survived by her sons Brian and Robert, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.A service for Viola will take place at 11AM on April 27 at Good Shepard Lutheran Church in Hayward, to be followed by burial at Chapel of the Chimes, also in Hayward.
What’s your fondest memory of Viola?
What’s a lesson you learned from Viola?
Share a story where Viola's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Viola you’ll never forget.
How did Viola make you smile?