Genova Wilson
Genova Patrice Barnes Wilson passed away peacefully on June 3, 2019, in a Hamilton nursing home, just two weeks before her 94th birthday.
Funeral services were conducted by Pastor Keith Reich in Pottsville at Trinity Lutheran Church. Following the service, Genova was buried beside her husband in Indian Gap Cemetery.
Mrs. Wilson was born in Nolan County, Texas, June 18, 1925, to Phillip and Verna Barnes. Her family eventually moved to Brown County and farmed family land near Pecan Bayou. In 1934, the family would move again to Hood County and farm land Phillip had inherited near Hill City until her mother’s death in 1940. Afterward, Genova’s family returned to Brownwood, where she attended school in Early. Genova worked various jobs to help her father provide for her three younger sisters.
During the war years, Genova worked at First National Bank as a teller and evenings as a nurses aide at Medical Arts Hospital. She served as a USO hostess member of the “Victory Belles” in Brownwood.
On May 17, 1946, Genova married Marlin Hampton Wilson of Hamilton, and they lived together until his death in July 1994.
After the birth of their daughter, Marla Gene, Genova began working for Brownwood Memorial Hospital in Brownwood. She earned a Bachelor of General Studies from Howard Payne College and later a second degree from Texas Woman’s University in Denton. She then took and passed the national exam for certification as a Registered Records Administrator, passing it in 1975. In the following years, Genova worked in both public and private hospitals, nursing homes and institutions. She retired from TDCJ in 1993 to care for her ailing husband.
In 1994, Genova moved to Moody near her daughter. In 2008 her daughter and son-in-law built a home at Indian Gap on land bought by Genova and her husband in 1953. Genova lived in Indian Gap with her family until February 2019.
While in Moody, Genova was a member of the McGregor Red Hat Ladies and became a McLennan County Master Gardener.
After moving to Indian Gap, she joined the Pottsville Extension Education Club, Sassy Lassies and Pottsville Trinity Lutheran Church.
She cherished the new friends she made living in Hamilton County, and they brought great joy to her life. She was an avid reader, a talented artist, a good friend and listener. Her greatest joy in life was time spent with family and friends.
Genova is preceded in death by her parents, Phillip and Verna Barnes; sister Wanda Fay Cox; and husband Marlin H. Wilson.
Survivors include daughter Marla Gene Knutson and husband Ronny of Indian Gap; grandsons Sean Wes Knutson and wife Marie of Tooele, Utah, and James Wade Knutson and wife Jennifer of Hamilton; great-grandchildren Parker C. Knutson and wife Chelsea of Bryan, Tamara Sue Willich of McGregor, Trooper E Knutson, Marlin J. Knutson and Patrick C. Knutson of Tooele, Helena D Knutson and Amalia B. Knutson of Hamilton; great-great-grandchildren Marshall G. Knutson, Haeley Willich, Keiley Cottrell and Keison Cottrell; two sisters, Pat Allen of Humble and Phyllis Levee of Huntsville; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Genova traveled extensively in her lifetime, but like Dorothy in the “Wizard of Oz”, she knew there was no place like home. She had a life well lived and will be missed by family and friends.
The family is appreciative of the care given to Genova by nurses and staff of Hamilton Healthcare Center, Hamilton General Hospital, Solaris Hospice and Riley Funeral Home.
They also want to express thanks to church family and other friends for providing a beautiful lunch after the service.
