Delores Jean Wilson

LODI-Delores Jean (Smith) Wilson, age 85, passed away surrounded by family at Agrace Hospice on September 3, 2015.  She was born in the Town of West Point on June 17, 1930, the daughter of Ezra Richard Smith and Lillian Nora (Braun) Smith.  She attended West Point Gibralter Grade School and graduated from Lodi High School year of 1948.  She married J Bruce Wilson January 13, 1951 and they raised five children.  She belonged to the West Point Methodist Church and later the Lodi United Methodist Church.  Along with caring for the family, she was self-employed in the home with the Lodi Answering Service for 5 years, employed at the Lodi Canning Company for 8 years and then American Family Insurance for 20 years where she retired.  Delores was a Charter member of the American Legion Auxiliary from 1953 until the time of her death.  She served the organization with love and devotion as the President for 35 years and was well known for her Poppy sales throughout Lodi.  For many years Delores represented the Auxiliary by delivering the speech at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery on Memorial Day.  Many Lodians will never forget her reading of "On Flanders Field".  She was an avid community supporter with participation in various other organizations such as Cub Scouts, Brownies and Girl Scouts, United Methodist Woman, American Red Cross Bloodmobile, Lodi Historical Society, West Point Historical Society, and TOPS.  She was well known in these organizations and with activities at Good Samaritan Society, where she resided for the last year and a half, for writing and performing programs honoring friends and educating members on various elements of Lodi's History.  She was a writer, genealogist, and  scrapbooker well before it became mainstream since she loved documenting the lives of her family.   Delores was preceded in death by her parents, brother Wallace Smith, grandson  Jeremy Wilson, grandson Elliot McKenna, and great-grandson Andrew McKenna.  She is survived by her daughter Kay McKenna (Jimi) of Lodi, daughter Monica Fandrich (Rick) of Lodi, daughter Melody Cota of DeForest, son Randall Wilson (Kristy) of Poynette, daughter Dixie Burbank (Jack) of Sun Prairie, sister-in-Law Sandy Smith of Sun Prairie and 10 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.  Funeral services will be held at LODI UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 130 Locust St., Lodi at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2015 with the Reverend Marjorie Rice-Myers presiding.  Burial will commence after the service at Garden Bluff Cemetery overlooking her family farm and one of her favorite spots, Gibralter Rock.  A luncheon will be served after the burial at the Lodi American Legion Hall. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON LODI FUNERAL HOME, 157 S. Main St., Lodi on Monday from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Monday, September 7, 2015 and also on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the church.  Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.