Shirley Vandora Wilson - Obituary

hirley Vandora “Van” Wilson was born in Roanoke, Virginia to Robert A. Hamlar and Maude Smith Hamlar on January 28th in 1933. Shirley was the youngest of nine and was predeceased by her siblings Eugene, Alwyn, Ethelyne, Clarence, Lawrence, David, Natalie, and Beverly. Shirley graduated from Roanoke's Lucy Addison High School in 1950. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Virginia State College in 1954. Shirley was a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and formed lifelong friends in their shared sisterhood. Shirley married her High School sweetheart Thomas H. “Bug” Wilson, Jr. in 1955. They formed a career Air Force family, as Thomas served 20 years. They traveled to California, New Mexico, Japan, and finally to the DC Metro area at Andrews AFB. Shirley and Thomas raised five children Alan “Ray,” Michael “Mike,” Sondra, Anthony “Tony,” and Thomas “Tom” the 3rd. In 1962, the young Shirley traveled with four children to meet Thomas. The oldest was six and the youngest was an infant. Tom was born in Japan while the family was stationed at Itazuke AFB. Shirley committed her life to service. She worked as a social services caseworker when the family was stationed in the US and completed her career with the Calvert County, Maryland Department of Social Services where she retired after 20 years. Shirley was a member of the University Park Church of Christ in Hyattsville, Maryland. Shirley formed many close and loving friendships with the members. The church nurtured her faith in Jesus Christ as her savior. Shirley’s faith was birthed in her loving home and she grew in faith at The First Baptist Church of Roanoke, the church home for generations of Hamlar family members. Shirley was a lifelong learner and reader. She shared her love of tennis with her brother Beverley and niece Brenda. They would often watch Grand Slam tournament matches in a three-way telephone call. One of her joys was a road trip to attend the US Open in Flushing, New York with Brenda. Shirley was a loving, welcoming, and caring woman. Her children’s friends always felt at home and many would visit her on holidays and on her birthday to express their regards well into their adulthood. She would greet them and their children as family members. During her time with University Park Church of Christ, she would receive frequent hugs and greetings from the children of church members she had known since they were children. Shirley is predeceased by Thomas (1933 – 2018) at rest in Arlington Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. She is survived by her children Ray (Elanza,) Mike, Sondra Rothermel (Ken,) Tony (Kim,) and Tom (Gloria.) She leaves 11 grandchildren, Joseph, Amanda Pendray (Jeremy), Bryan, Danielle, Christian, Stephanie, Christina, Kimberly, Thomas IV, Tariq, and Kyla. Shirley has two great-grandchildren Milan and Miles. Shirley loved her nieces, nephews, and their children. She leaves a host of cherished friends and their families. Relatives and friends are invited to Shirley's Public Viewing on Saturday, April 30, 2022 from 11am to 12pm at the KALAS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY, 6160 Oxon Hill Rd., Oxon Hill, MD. The Life Celebration will be private. Please leave a condolence for the family by signing the guestbook at the Memories tab located on this page. Shirley Wilson Funeral Livestream: Following this vimeo link will display the funeral live stream: https://vimeo.com/event/836956 And until we start the livestream it has an image showing part of the obit. If people prefer to view it on YouTube then once we start streaming they can find the video on our youtube channel at this URL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7QQ33Nkgy7lZiZIqm_bKVA