On August 2, 2024, Gertrude May (Kitching) Wilson passed away peacefully with family by her side, having lived a very full 96 years of life. May was born in Chicago, Illinois, March 20, 1928 to Charles and Beatrice Kitching. Her childhood was spent with her five siblings, family and friends.    As a kid, one of her favorite pastimes was roller skating which May did, well into her 70’s. 

In 1946, May graduated from Murray F. Tuley Catholic High School and then went on to work at Motorola where she met the love of her life, Paul J Wilson. On June 30, 1951, May and Paul married in Chicago and shortly after moved to Seattle where they bought their family home in Shoreline and began raising their soon-to-be young family of five.  During those family years, May found much joy as a homemaker and filled the Wilson home with warmth and kindness through the care of her husband and children.

 After Paul retired in1985, they enjoyed spending time together, filling each day with daily walks, traveling in their motorhome, weekly dancing at the Eagles, playing cards, and always spending time with their kids and the many grandchildren. May was a life-long parishioner at St. Luke’s Parish in Shoreline. She also enjoyed being a member of the Red Hats Society and her monthly Neighborhood Birthday Party Club.

May was proceeded in death by her husband Paul Wilson; her five siblings: Robert Kitching (Chicago, IL), Ray Kitching (Fort Smith, AK), LaVergne Biagini (Northbrook, IL), Loretta Kitching (Northbrook, IL) and Annette Petrone (Chicago, IL); and grandson, Tyler Nolan (Chehalis, WA).  She is survived by her five children:  Wayne (Susan) Wilson, Roger Wilson, Gary Wilson, Sherry (Skip) Frailey and Russell (Jodi) Wilson.  May was also blessed with 17 surviving grandchildren, and 34 great grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces and nephews in both the Seattle and Chicago Area. May was loved by so many and is dearly missed.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in May’s honor to the Lopez Island Historical Society & Museum ([email protected]), P.O. Box 163, Lopez Island, WA 98261 or Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (www.fredhutch.org).

On Monday, August 19, 2024, at 11 a.m. a Funeral Mass to be held at St. Luke Catholic Church, 322 N 175th St., Shoreline, WA; preceding will be a viewing at 10:00AM and followed by reception in the church’s rectory. On Tuesday, August 20, 2024, the Burial Service will be at 11:30 AM at Lopez Union Cemetery and Center Church, 311 Davis Bay Road, Lopez Island, WA.