Alva Wilson Obituary

Wilson
Alva L.
Wilson
April 3, 1937
December 6, 2023

Alva was born on April 3, 1937 in Salisbury, MO to the union of the Reverend William Roy Lee and, Elizabeth Myrtle (Grant) Lee, the sixth of seven children. At the age of six, the family moved to Armstrong, MO where Alva attended elementary and middle school at Douglas School of Color. She accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized by her father. Her upbringing was a product of multiple generations of preachers in the family.
Alva Lee graduated in 1954 from the historic Black, Dalton Agricultural and Vocational High School. At the age of 17, she married the love of her life, SFC Woodrow Wilson. To the union of the couple was born three children, Sharon Denese Wilson Wheeler, Cynthia Gail Wilson-Clark and Ricky Tyree Wilson.
Woody made a career in the army and retired after 27 years. Alva and Woody enjoyed 63 years of marriage before Woody left his earthly home in 2016. As a military wife, Alva lived in many places from England AFB to Okinawa, Japan, before finally settling in Colorado Springs in 1971. They enjoyed many years camping, cruising and traveling the world. Alva visited all 50 states and every continent, with the exception of Antarctica.
She was deeply involved in church from the time she moved to Colorado Springs. In 1971, she became a member of St John Baptist Church, and Trinity Baptist Church in the nineties. In 2009, Alva became a charter member of the Fresh Start Baptist Church in Colorado Springs. She was a Member of the Mission department in every church. With Rose of Sharon International Ministries, she went on several mission trips to Ethiopia, Jamaica and the Holy Land and was a member of the National Baptist convention.
In 1978, Alva graduated with an Associate degree from Pikes Peak Community College. She was awarded her Bachelor of Science degree in 1982 from Regis University, with a major in Business and a Minor in religious studies. She then completed five years of Study with the Bible Study Fellowship.
In her career, Alva worked as an Occupational Safety Specialist for the Department of Defense at Fort Carson before retiring in 1988. Before and after her retirement Alva was actively engaged in the civIc and social life of her community holding leadership roles in many organizations to which she belonged.
Most of all Alva loved her family; her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and her extended family. She was an "adopted" mom to many and friend to all. Her loving extended Colorado Family include, Ronald and Debra Wynn, Franklin and Mary Clay, Lillian Young, Karen Hughes, Queen Brown, her caregiver, Amanda Drain and members of her church family at Fresh Start Baptist Church. In her final days she treasured time with her great-grand's, in her words, "they give me life…."
Alva left her earthly vessel on December 6, 2023 surrounded by family in prayer, listening to gospel music at home in Colorado Springs, Colorado. As a good and faithful servant that lived a life committed to God, Alva earned her wings and moved into her "Brand New House" in heaven to be with her eternal father.
She leaves to cherish her in loving memory, her daughter Cynthia Wilson-Clark of Colorado Springs, CO., her son, Ricky Tyree Wilson (Leticia) of Brighton, CO., brother-in-law, Arthur Lee Wilson of Indianapolis, Indiana, sister-in-law Jaqueline Lee of Tucson, Arizona, son-law, Willie Lee Wheeler of Colorado Springs, God daughter, Megan Wynn Keyes of Houston, TX, and her grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews and her extended Colorado Family.
She was preceded in death by her parents Roy and Elizabeth Lee, her husband, Woodrow Wilson, her daughter Sharon Wilson-Wheeler, her four sisters; Ruth Tooley Ganaway, Edna Jones Bracken, Naomi Christian, Gertrude Terrill Mitchell, and her two brothers Raymond William Lee and Thomas Jefferson Lee.
"I want to be remembered as a person that loved the Lord and my family with all my heart. I also loved my church families and being a Missionary, going into communities to teach about Jesus Christ and the Christian faith. I tried to live a life that others could see Christ in me." Alva Wilson, Dec 27, 2017
Alva's Celebration of Life services will be held December 15, 2023 at Angelus Chapel, 1104 S. Circle, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Viewing will be from 3:30pm-4:30 pm. The service will begin at 4:30pm with nephew and Pastor Ronald Tooley officiating. The repass will be immediately following services in the fellowship hall. Interment will be on Saturday December 16th at Dignity Memorial Cemetery, Abbey of the Angels Mausoleum, in Colorado Springs, CO at 12:00 p.m. Come help us Celebrate a life well lived…
In lieu of flowers, donations made be made to "The Woodrow and Alva Wilson Scholarship Fund" 3472 Research Parkway Suite 104-374, Colorado Springs, CO 80920.