Sarah Anderson Wilson

Sarah was born in Lexington, Kentucky, the youngest of five children. Our father moved the family to his hometown of Morgantown, West Virginia for his academic medical career where Sarah spent her childhood until age 12. She joined the local swim team with her siblings, a sport she continued throughout her life. Sarah loved West Virginia, bursting into the song “Take Me Home, Country Roads”, by John Denver, years later when we would cross the state line on our way to the annual family reunion. A childhood highlight was when our family spent a year in Nottingham, England when Sarah was eight and our father took a sabbatical from WVU. A fond memory of Sarah’s was the two-week Italian cruise ship and the many European cities our family visited. She adored her British teacher and wrote to her for many decades. 

In early childhood, Sarah attended the same camp in the Pennsylvania Poconos for several summers that her sisters and cousin Jennifer attended. A highlight was when Sarah was a lead as Aunt Eller in the musical ‘Oklahoma’ the summer before our family moved to Oklahoma for our father’s medical career. Sarah always talked about the accomplishment of going to Alaska with our church youth group on a mission trip, where they built houses. As a teen, she developed her lifelong interest in art starting with an intricate painting on china in a church art class. Sarah enjoyed painting, crafting and art classes her entire life. Another teen highlight was going to Brush Ranch Camp in Santa Fe, NM where she backpacked in the mountains.

She graduated high school from Oklahoma Christian School. Sarah attained an associate’s degree in Early Childhood Development from Oklahoma City Community College and a bachelor’s degree in Family Development from Central State University. She completed her Master of Education at University of Central Oklahoma specializing in gerontology where she was a member of Phi Upsilon Omicron, an honor and service society for geriatrics and the Professional Activity Director Association. Sarah worked in child development centers and spent most of her career as an Activity Director in nursing homes. She formed lifelong friendships with co-workers. Sarah volunteered with the National Alliance of Mental Illness. She was a regular participant at Celebrate Recovery, Crossings Church and Overeaters Anonymous where she developed strong mutually-supportive friendships.

Sarah had a wonderful fashion sense combining jewelry with colorful nails and clothing. She even modeled at a local clothing store. In addition to painting and artwork she wrote poetry her whole life and read a poem at a local bookstore poetry event. Sarah’s smile lit up a room. Sarah’s strong Christian faith was lived out daily by gaining strength from reading Scripture, playing Christian music and lifting up family and friends in prayer.

Sarah is predeceased by her parents, Michael Friend Wilson and Clare Schofield Wilson and her brother, Michael Lowther Wilson. Sarah is survived by her sisters, Helen Horton Wilson, Rebecca Wilson Parry and Elizabeth Schofield Wilson. Sarah is also survived by her stepmother Barbara Wilson, aunt JoAn Keadle, brother-in-law Charles Parry, niece Anna Parry, nephew Doug (Lara) Parry, great nephew Benjamin Parry, niece Rachel Deutsch, nephew Michael Deutsch as well as many beloved cousins whom she enjoyed memorable family reunions at Capon Springs & Farms, WV. 

We will miss our beloved sister very much. We appreciate the support and love from family and friends. Thank you to the medical providers and caregivers for their care of Sarah on her cancer journey. A celebration of life will be held at the Chapel at Crossings Community Church, 14600 N. Portland Ave. Oklahoma City OK on February 28th 1-2 pm with a reception following. The Chapel is the only part of the Crossings Church building which is all white stone.  Sarah will be buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, NY in our family plot. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the National Alliance of Mental Illness in memory of Sarah A. Wilson. 

To view service, please visit: https://vimeo.com/event/4914199/33e570eba1