Beulah Eileen Miller

Beulah Eileen Miller Wilson, age 93, of Center Ridge, Ark. peacefully ended a long life that touched many people on January 1, 2014. Exactly 71 years before the night of her passing, she met the young Air Force Pilot who would soon become her lifelong partner. Beulah was born September 5, 1920 in a farm house built by her father that still stands today, a few miles from Croswell, Michigan. She remembered and shared many memories from that farm and the surrounding farms of her father's brothers: the one room school house, her many cousins, and the less fortunate relatives from Detroit who were sheltered by the farm during the Great Depression. To improve the health of her older sister (who was diagnosed with Tuberculosis as a teenager) the family moved to the clean desert air of Tucson, Arizona. There she met and married Waring Woodrow Wilson, an Oklahoma farm boy whose ancestors were early Pope County pioneers. Before leaving for a tour in Italy as a B-24 pilot with the 15th Air Force, their only son, Donald Allan Wilson, was born. Successfully having completed his 35 missions, Woody was home on leave when Germany surrendered. After a brief period in civilian life, he accepted a permanent commission beginning a life with frequent moves. Mary Jane Kennedy, the eldest daughter, arrived at Rantoul, Illinois, Carol Anne Wilson at College Station, Texas, and Barbara Jean Wilson at San Bernardino, California. Along the way, before retiring as Base Commander of Forbes Air Force Base in Topeka, Kansas in 1971, the family also lived in Florida, Canada, Alabama, Michigan, Germany, Louisiana, Maryland, and South Carolina. After retirement, the final move was to the farm in Sheepskin Valley, where Barbara Jean graduated from Nemo Vista and now teaches. Woody, also known as the Colonel, predeceased her in 1991. Beulah dedicated her life to helping others, leaving a legacy of changed lives. Her warm smile, and outlook of always placing the needs of others above hers will forever be remembered and missed by the entire family. Beulah was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Mary Jane Miller, her brother Allen Miller, her sister Sadie Mae Miller, her husband of 48 years, Waring Woodrow Wilson, and her grandson Allan Huston Wilson. In addition to her four children: Donald Wilson (and wife Beth Wilson), Mary Kennedy (husband Tim Kennedy), Carol Wilson (Oren Wright), and Barbara Wilson, she leaves behind five grandchildren: Nancy Montagu (and husband Rupert Montagu), Erin Kennedy (Kris Davis), Kristin Kennedy-Demby (Nathaniel Demby), Katherine Kennedy, Emma Wilson Manning, and eight great-grandchildren: Henry Montagu, Alexander Montagu, Nicholas Montagu, Isabelle Davis, Oliver Davis, Livia Kennedy-Demby, Malayah Demby, and Zayleigh Demby. A memorial service will be held at the Wilson residence of 887 Sheepskin Rd., Center Ridge, Ark. 72027 on Saturday, January 18th. Open visitation will be from 2-4 p.m. and a short service will be held by Eldridge Snow at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the veterans organization of your choice, or your local pet shelter. Arrangements by Harris Funeral Home of Morrilton. Online guestbook: www.harrisfuneralhomes.net.