Maryanna Wilson

Maryanna (“Anna”) Lovejoy Wilson, formerly of San Antonio, peacefully passed away at The Blake Waco, on November 24, 2024, with close family at her side, after a long struggle with dementia. She passed only days after her 89th birthday, with her usual joyfulness, a tiara on her head and celebrating that she was “Queen for the Day!”

A private service for family will be held, and afterwards friends and family are invited to celebrate her life January 26, 2025, at 2:00 in the Great Hall of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Waco, Texas. Bright colors encouraged.

On November 15, 1935, Anna was born at home on the Lovejoy Ranch outside of Pidcoke, Texas. In the early 1940s, the family moved to nearby Gatesville after the government acquired most of the land to build a new military base, Fort Hood. After graduating high school, she met a young Air Force officer trainee, Richard (“Rick”) Wilson. Soon after they married and in October celebrated 70 years together.

Anna was the consummate officer’s wife and served in many leadership positions while raising their four children. She was also ever-present in her children’s lives, often serving as room mother, cub scout leader, band mother, and more. 

The family moved many times over the years and Anna embraced each new place. When they received orders for a new duty station, Anna would go to the library and borrow books on the new city or country and excitedly inform the family that “We are going on an adventure!” Her positive outlook helped her children to also embrace their newest home. 

The family settled in San Antonio after Rick’s retirement from the military and transition into the civil service. In San Antonio, Anna decided she needed a little “fun money” and obtained a part-time job at Sears. Over time, due to Anna’s quick learning and talent with accounting, her part-time job at Sears evolved into several management positions. With her free time, she volunteered for the San Antonio Symphony and the Brooks Army Medical Burn Center where she read, wrote letters for, and comforted the young soldiers. 

Rick and Anna left Texas to spend several years in Virginia after Rick was tapped for a military project. Anna enjoyed exploring the beautiful sites in the Northeast and hosting family in the DC area. After Rick’s second retirement, they returned to San Antonio to be closer to family. 

Anna’s positive disposition and sassy sense of humor showed with whatever she did. She loved being with people and was always surrounded by a menagerie of pets, rescued and brought home by herself or her children. In retirement, Anna enjoyed traveling with Rick throughout the United States and Europe, taking many cruises and long road trips. She especially loved the Colorado Rockies in the fall. Anna was an excellent photographer, documenting their world travels and decorating their homes with her beautiful photographs. She was a voracious reader and a nearly unbeatable Scrabble player. She loved to watch both college and professional basketball and was particularly fond of the San Antonio Spurs.

Five years ago, when her health started to decline, Anna and her husband moved to Waco to be closer to her daughter. 

Anna was preceded in death by her parents Robert Elliott “Buck” Lovejoy and mother, Mary Daphne Graves Lovejoy; and son, Bryan Elliott Wilson.

She is survived by husband, Col.(ret) Richard Joseph Wilson; daughter, Elizabeth “Betsy” Wilson Reeder and husband, Dr. Phillip Reeder of Waco, Texas; son, Scott Richard Wilson and wife, Janet Mohr of Pahoa, Hawaii; son, Bruce Alan Wilson and wife, Valerie of Ft. Worth, Texas; grandchildren, Michael John Wilson of Ft. Worth, Texas, Sarah Christine Wilson of Baltimore, Maryland, CPO Ian Wilson of Fallan, Nevada, and Emily Reeder-Ricchetti and husband, Danny Ricchetti, and one great-granddaughter, Elliott “Ellie” Elizabeth Ricchetti of Arlington, Virginia.

Special thanks go to Sha Kessler and to Community Hospice for their kind care.

The family wishes any memorials go to Caritas of Waco, Alzheimer’s Association, or Fuzzy Friends Rescue.

Mom will be terribly missed, but we know that she is having her best adventure ever, dancing with the angels in Heaven.

We invite you to leave a message or memory of Anna in her “Memorial Guestbook” at www.WHBfamily.com.