Elizabeth Emily Strickland Wilson of Lewes, Delaware passed away peacefully in her daughters home in Florida surrounded by her loving family at the age of 97 years.

Born in her families home in Newark Delaware on May 12th 1926 Emily was the daughter of Beatrice E Moore Strickland Hevalow of Newark and William T Strickland of Wayne County North Carolina.

Emily was a graduate of Newark High School class of 1946. Her first job was as a soda jerk at Rhoades Drug Store in Newark . From there going on to work at the University of Delaware in the secretarial pool, the Budd Company, Chrysler Corp. Dr. R Soules M.D. office before returning back to the University of Delaware as an Administrative Assistant for many years until retiring to her beach home in Lewes Delaware.

Emily was a runner up in the Mrs. Brookside Pageant in the late 1950's in Newark and a lifetime member in the VFW post 475 ladies auxiliary and the Newark Country Club where she enjoyed playing many rounds of golf with family and friends. After retiring to Lewes Delaware Emily became a lifetime member of the VFW ladies auxiliary post 7447 in Rehoboth Beach Delaware and the American Legion in Lewes, Delaware. She conducted tours of the Historic Burton House in Lewes, and volunteered tutoring 5th graders at the Shields Elementary School .

Emily enjoyed dancing, jazzercise class, antiquing, crossword puzzles, and playing bridge in many bridge clubs over the years and watching her cowboy movies and western shows on the T.V. She also enjoyed walks on the beach and boardwalk and fishing pier in Rehoboth Beach and out to the ferry terminal in Lewes to watch the Cape May/Lewes Ferry going out and returning from Cape May New Jersey. Also walking the many trails at the Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes. Her number 1 favorite pastime besides spending quality time with her family and friends was reading. She loved all sorts of novels and history books, Southern Living and Coastal Living magazines always dreaming of having the big front porch and landscaped yard and nautical decor of a house on the beach.

In the Methodist Church in Newark Delaware Emily married the love of her life Harold W. (Butch) Wilson on September 6Th 1947. They were married 53 years till his passing in February 2004.

Emily is preceded in death by her loving parents, husband Butch, her brother William T. Strickland(Vera), sisters Janet A Strickland Gates Wilson(Don), Mary Lou Strickland Baker Kertiles(Buster), son-in-law Tommy Wayne Bartley Sr., 2 brothers-in-laws Alfred C. Wilson(Elizabeth)and Wayne R. Wilson(Doris), 2 nephews Tommy Baker and Michael Wilson. As well as numerous Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.

Emily is survived by 2 daughters Barbara E Wilson Bartley of Newark Delaware and Sandra Jean Wilson Hernandez(Dwight)of St. Cloud Florida. Grandchildren Stacie E Bartley Hamm(Danny), Tommy Wayne Bartley II, Anthony Wilson Hernandez(Carrie), Wendy A. Bartley Verlander(Andre), Janet A Hernandez(Caregiver), Kevin J. Bartley, Brian M. Hernandez(Casey), Nicholas T. Hernandez(Bonnie). Great Grandchildren: Amanda E. Hamm Stewart(Richard), Andrew B. Webster, Matthew L. Hamm, Jeremy A. Starrett, Aaron C. Hernandez, Tommy Wayne Bartley III, Brianna L. Hernandez(Chris), Adrianna L. Bartley Lorenzen(Noah), Michael J. Verlander(Randi), Audrey M. Hernandez, Jayla R. Hernandez Martinez(Devaughn), Bryson M. Hernanndez, Paisley M. Hernandez, Nora Jane Hernandez, Caelynn B. Hernandez and 2 step great grandchildren Amanda D and Bryant A. Bond. 2 Great Great Grandchildren: AnnaLee G. Lorenzen, and Wyatt A. Stewart(who she fondly called Wyatt Earp). 6 nieces: Brenda S. Strickland Ciconte(Tom), Laurel E. Barker Munion(Bill), Julia Baker Rawlings, Karen E. Wilson Gilbert(Bonner), Michelle Wilson Wilson(Greg), Donna Wilson Watson. 6 nephews: Robert Polk, William T. Strickland(Holly), Charles Strickland, Alfred C. Wilson Jr.(Joyce), Steven Wilson(Jackie), David Scott Wilson(Kay). Her bonus great goddaughter Nevaeh Morales and dear Friends Alice M. Pajich, Rhonda and John Brown, and Penny Price also dear Friends and Neighbors Debbie and Dyarrel Riefsnyder.

Memorial Service will be held on Thursday July 20Th 2023 at the Veterans Cemetery in Bear, Delaware at 1:00 p.m. Celebration of Life to follow.