Willson - Anna
Source: Indianapolis Star Sat 7 July 1923 p 1
Crawfordsville, July 6 – Miss Anna Willson, 54 years old, for many years prominent in state and national educational circles, died at her home here at 6:10 o’clock this evening of anemia following a long illness.
Miss Willson was a member of the committee of character of the national council of education of the National Education Association. She was an ex-president of the Indiana State Teachers’ Association.
Miss Willson was born in Crawfordsville and had lived here all of her life. Her grandfather was Samuel Willson, a pioneer of Montgomery County, and her father was Levi Willson. She is survived by her mother, Mrs. Sarah Willson, who is seriously ill at her home here.
The deceased was graduated from the Crawfordsville High School in 1886. She entered the teaching field in the public schools and continued this profession for 36 years. She was chosen principal of the Crawfordsville high school in 1895 and served in this capacity until 1921, when she was made superintendent of the city schools. She resigned this post at the close of the last school year on account of ill health. She had been confined to her bed since the first of June, when she fell and broke her ankle.
Miss Willson had a bachelor of science and master’s degree from Purdue University and a special degree of superintendent of schools which she received from Columbia University I 1921. She also took graduate work at Boston University and Chicago University.
The Crawfordsville High School Sunshine Society an organization nof high school girls, was sponsored by Miss Willson. This type of organization since has been adopted in many high schools of the state and of the United States. Miss Willson was prominent in church, club and civic activities of Crawfordsville. She was a member of the Methodist Church. For many years she was active in the State Teachers’ Association, serving in the various offices and on committees, and was personally acquainted with a large percentage of the teachers in Indiana.
Miss Willson is survived by no close relatives, other than her mother. A cousin, Harmon Marsh, resides in Indianapolis. The funeral, which will be held here Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock, is expected to be the largest funeral service ever held in Crawfordsville. Hundreds of Crawfordsville high school alumni and friends in educational circles from all over the state and surrounding states are expected to attend. -- transcribed by karen zach
Source: Crawfordsville Review Aug 7, 1923 p 1
The bodies of Mrs. Sarah G. Willson and Miss Anna Willson, mother and daughter, were lowered into the final resting place side by side in the same grave at Oak Hill Cemetery Monday afternoon while many sympathetic friends were in attendance. Miss Willson's casket was removed from the vault where it was placed after her funeral by six former president of the high school alumni association as follows: JJ Malony; Royce Moon; Paul Stump; Frank Howard; Frank Davidson and Laurence Devore. Pall bearers for Mrs. Willson were Dr. IA Detchon; Walter Pickett; Tully C. Crabbs; Louis Otto; Howard Smith and Joseph Fisher -- typed by kbz