Marion Pepple Wilson

Marion Pepple Wilson, nee Marberry, 93, of Belleville, IL, formerly of Flora, IL. died Thursday, February 10, 2011 at Edwardsville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Marion was born in Madison, WI and at 1 1/2 years of age was taken to Saline, KS to live with her grandmother, Laura Marberry Abel.

Later her grandmother took her to live in Flora, IL where she attended Flora High School. After graduating from high school she was accepted into nurses training at St.

Luke Hospital in St. Louis, MO. After being injured in an automobile accident she left nurses training and she and her grandmother moved to East St. Louis, IL. She worked as a legal secretary in St. Louis, MO. At that time she met and married Delbert Pepple, Manager of Transportaion Dept. at Swift & Co. in East St. Louis, IL. Her husband became ill and passed away three years later. Marion then moved to Belleville, IL where she met and married Roscoe K. Wilson Sr.

Roscoe passed away in 1997 and was buried in Flora, IL. Marion was a member of Crossroad Christian Church, which had moved from East St. Louis, and later became an elder. She joined A.A.R.P. Association and joined the Belleville Area College Writing Class. For 20 years Marion wrote misc items for newspapers and magazines. She wrote and had published her first book, "Little Cloud Who Didn't Have a Shadow".

She was preceded in death by her:

  • First Husband: Delbert Pepple
  • Husband: Roscoe K. Wilson Sr
  • Parents: Cecil and Dorothy Marberry
  • Aunts
    • Lillian Cliver
    • Hilda Johnson
    • Alice Cadmus
  • Numerous Cousins

Surviving are her:

  • Son: Roscoe K. Wilson Jr, of Mississippi
  • Daughter-in-Law: Dianne P. Cooper of Des Moines, IA
  • 5 Grandchildren: Andrea, Tereasa, Dora, Sidney and Katie
  • 4 Great Grandchildren

Memorials: Memorials maybe made to Crossroads Christian Church, Caseyville, IL.

Visitation: Friends may call from 10-12 P.M., Saturday, February 12 at the Kurrus Funeral Home, Belleville, IL.

Funeral: Funeral services will be held at 12:00 pm Saturday, February 12, 2011 at Kurrus Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Doug Cripe officiating. Interment will follow at Elmwood Cemetery in Flora, IL.

Condolences left for Marion Pepple Wilson:

    Marion was a good friend of my parents, Red & Opal Moore. I remember Marion from attending the State Street Church of the Nazarene in East St. Louis.
    Marion was one of the sweetest ladies! She had a such a sweet voice -- and was so sincere.
    I have a copy of her book -- and cherish it.
    Marion was a special lady that has touched the hearts and lives of many -- mine included!

    Carol Foor Watson Bourbonnais Illinois 60914

    Marion was a lady in every sense of the word. She was smart, funny and kind and possessed more pep and childlike wonder in her 80s than most people have in their youth!
    I was a writer for the Belleville News-Democrat when I first met Marion and her husband, Roscoe "Kelly" Wilson. Over the years, I wrote about Kelly's rose garden and his homemade fudge, about Marion and Kelly's "romance" and, of course, about Marion's writing. I remember how "over the moon" she was when her first book was published. I believe she was 80 at the time!
    I also remember how she doted on Kelly and how proud she was of her family. She spoke often of her son, Rocky, her former daughter-in-law, Diane, and her beloved granddaughters. One of her favorite memories was when Diane -- whom she absolutely adored -- arranged to have her taken up in a private plane. She told the story in great detail, as only Marion could. I believe this was when she got the idea for the "Little Cloud" story! She also spoke lovingly of her first husband, Mr. Pepple, and his family. As I recall, her first husband's son arranged to have her book published. He was there when I interviewed her and she was so very proud. She just raved and raved about what a wonderful man he was and how lucky she was to have him and his family in her life.
    That was Marion. If she loved you, she REALLY loved you. She was one of a kind. A remarkable, talented woman. We could all take a lesson from her passion for life, her strong faith, her enduring relationships and her loyalty to family and friends.



    Michelle Meehan Schrader