In Memoriam: Former Longtime Rumsonite Mary Ellen Wilson, 91

Former longtime Rumsonite, mom and wife of the late Rumson Presbyterian Church’s Rev. Skip Wilson, Mary Ellen Wilson, passed away peacefully Monday. She was 91.

Mary Ellen Wilson
Photo/family via Thompson Memorial Home

“Mary Ellen was blessed and honored to be the mother of Elaine, Pamela, and Stanley Wilson, being a great joy to her life. She stood by her husband, the late Rev. Skip Wilson, as he pastored four churches, three in Pennsylvania and the last in Rumson, where they lived for 26 years before retiring in May of 1996. While living in Rumson, Mary Ellen worked at the Oceanic Free Library for 23 years and then continued working for daughter Dr. Pamela E. Wilson, DC for 30 years … She was an avid gardener, loved sewing, needlepoint and crocheting. She enjoyed working with youth choirs, as music and singing were very important to her throughout her entire life. Mary Ellen loved traveling with her husband and family in the United States and Europe. After her husband passed away, she moved in March 2010 to the Atrium of Navesink Harbor Independent Living. In 2011, she became director of the library for seven years. While living there, she became a winner of many shuffleboard games
which she greatly enjoyed.“
Loved ones of Mary Ellen Wilson in her obituary

More about Mary Ellen from her obituary …

Born in Milton RD #2, PA to the late Homer S. Wagner and Ruth Fox Wagner on March 5, 1930, Mary Ellen was raised on the Wagner Farm which dated back to the Revolutionary War. She received her first eight grades of education in a one room schoolhouse being taught by her father, Homer Wagner, who was the teacher.

Mary Ellen attended Milton High School in Milton, PA, and upon graduation spent one year at Mansfield State Teachers College in Mansfield, PA. The following three years, she studied voice and piano at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA.

In June of 1953, she married Foster C. Wilson, Jr., better known as Skip Wilson, who was attending Princeton Seminary and studying to be a Presbyterian minister.

Mary Ellen is survived by her children, Stanley, Elaine and Pamela Wilson.

Her memorial service will be this Friday, Dec. 3, at 11 a.m. at the Rumson Presbyterian Church. The service can be live streamed by visiting www.rumsonpresbyterian.org and accessing the Resources page. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Mary Ellen’s name to the Rumson Presbyterian Church Memorial Garden Fund using the Giving page on the church’s website at www.rumsonpresbyterian.org.

— Edited obituary provided by family via Thompson Memorial Home