Ona Faye Wilsie's Obituary
Ona Faye Wilsie was born on New Year’s Day in 1920 in Stanger Springs, near the town of Ben Wheeler, Texas. She was the last surviving child of Joseph Absalom and Sarah Alice Stanger. Despite growing up during the depression, Ona Faye had many fond memories of living on the farm. She loved her five older sisters very much, but was particularly close to her younger brother Lavern, with whom she spent so much time as a child.Though she moved away to California in her early twenties, she always considered herself a country girl and she was very proud to be a Texan.Ona Faye moved to San Diego just as the United States was about to enter World War II. Although she lived with her sister Gladys, she was determined to be a financially independent young woman. She worked downtown at the Majestic Malt shop when she arrived and for General Dynamics during the war. Eventually she became the executive secretary to the San Diego County Treasurer, a job she would hold for over 20 years. In 1947, Ona Faye met Warren Wilsie at the First Baptist Church in downtown San Diego. Warren proceeded to court Faye for the next 17 years! He asked her to marry him many times, but she always said she wasn’t ready. She was a very pretty woman and she admitted she had lots of suitors. He finally convinced her to marry him in 1964.Family life began for them with a daughter, Terri Alice and a new home in the neighborhood of Bankers Hill. They wanted to have another child, but since she had waited so long to get married, it was not safe to go through another pregnancy. Three years later, they adopted a son, Craig Ross. Once she became immersed in raising two small children, she decided to retire from the County and became a full time mother to Terri and Craig. Ona Faye and Warren were members of the First Presbyterian Church of San Diego for 43 years. They worked for many years in the church nursery taking care of the babies and toddlers, becoming well-known to many of the parents who attended the services.Ona Faye was a selfless and devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She and Warren spent many hours caring for their grandchildren, and Ona Faye’s fondest wish was to be present to watch her grandchildren grow. She took life as it came, and enjoyed whatever she was doing.Ona Faye is survived by her daughter Terri Wilsie and her husband Peter Modlin, their children Sarah, Emily, and twin boys Sam and Ben Modlin. She is also survived by her son Craig Wilsie, his wife Merilee Wilsie, and their children Paige and Kyle Wilsie. Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 20th, at Greenwood Memorial Park, 4300 Imperial Ave., San Diego. A memorial service honoring her life will follow at 3 p.m. in the chapel of the First Presbyterian Church, 320 Date St.
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