Mrs. George (Bernice) Wilton went to be with our Lord on June 21, 2009, in Austin, Texas. She resided in Richland Springs for more than 60 years, and had lived at West Oaks Nursing Home in Austin for the past 3 years.

Bernice Lee Cook was born May 14, 1915 in Charlotte, Texas, only child of William and Ella Cook. She began playing the piano as a child, and became an accomplished pianist, majoring in music and education at Mary Hardin-Baylor. After graduation she taught school for 2 years in the Rio Grande Valley, then moved to Richland Springs to teach 2nd grade. While in Richland Springs she met George Wilton, and they continued to correspond even after she moved to Austin to attend business school. They married in 1945, and two daughters were born, Linda Kay in 1946, and Beverly Ann in 1948. The young family settled into the rock house on the Wilton farm northwest of Richland Springs. George was a stock farmer and also a Baptist minister, pastoring small churches at Bethel and Locker in the early years, and later Algerita Baptist Church. Bernice was church pianist in each of these churches. The family moved to Fort Worth where George attended the seminary, then pastored churches in Hillsboro and Muleshoe, returning to Richland Springs to be the pastor of Algerita Baptist church for many years. Bernice continued to lovingly donate her time and talent in each of these churches, as well as the First Baptist Church of Richland Springs, which she began attending after George's death in 1975.

Bernice Wilton provided a wonderful home for her family and was a dedicated mother. She faithfully fulfilled the responsibilities of being a minister's wife and a farmer's wife for many, many years.

Bernice Wilton is survived by her daughter, Beverly and son-in-law David New of Austin; son-in-law Jerry Glover of Duncanville; 4 granddaughters: Keri and her husband Wally Walakovits of Dallas; Stephanie and her husband Jason Moore of Highland Village; Nicole and her husband Reed Crowe of Austin; and Tara New of Austin.

She has 8 (almost 9) great grandchildren: Madelyn and Brent Moore; Cori, Rylee, and Ella Crowe; Alex, Nathan, and Joshua Sendgikoski; and soon to be born Ally Walakovits.

Mrs. Wilton was preceded in death by her husband George and her daughter Linda Kay Wilton Glover.

Bernice had 3 main focuses in her life - her love for her Lord, love of her church, and love for her family. She strived to be her best in all three areas, and was a wonderful example to all who knew her. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

Services for Bernice Wilton will be held at the Howell-Doran Funeral Home in San Saba at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 24th. Burial will follow at the Richland Springs Cemetery.