Ione Wilson, 97, of Effingham, formerly of Jewett, died at 6 a.m., Tuesday, July 5, 2011 at Evergreen Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Effingham.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, July 9, 2011 at Bauer Funeral Home in Effingham with burial in Island Creek Cemetery, Jasper County. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, July 8, 2011 at the funeral home and for one hour prior to the funeral service Saturday morning. Memorials may be made to the Centenary United Methodist Church of Effingham.

Ione was born on July 24, 1913 to James (Ed) and Mina (Newlin) Wilson. She married John Wilson on October 23, 1932 and he preceded her in death on December 23, 1973. They spent their entire married life on their farm in northern Jasper County, rural Jewett.

She was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church and a former member of Harmony United Methoidst Church where she was the church pianist for 35 years. Her greatest passions in life were bowling and dancing. She will be dearly missed by all those that knew and loved her.

Ione is survived by her son, Larry (Patsy) Wilson of Effingham; daughter, Wanda (Kenneth) Starwalt of Jewett; step-daughter, Winona (Mervyn) Reisner of rural Gila; sister, Marguerite Anderson of Charleston; 7 grandchildren, Rae Ann (Llyod) Wagner of Effingham, Doug (Barb) Starwalt, Brad (Danita) Starwalt both of Jewett, Debbie (Gary) Michl of Newton, Jane (Harold) Field of Gila, Mike (Anne) Wilson of Effingham and Julie (Scott) Miller of Clinton; 16 great grandchildren and 15 great great-grandchildren; close friend, Ruth Key of Effingham.