"Lily will always be remembered as a friend, confidant and sincere woman. She was fun loving and although things were not always easy for her worked through them with dignity and love. She was a delight to be with and we shared many hours going places and especially in the fall. She loved the colors of the leaves. Off we would go, to capture the beauty of them. She was a wonderful artist and loved doing paintings. She gave me a special one when we went to Davenport to the court to be awarded her citizenship papers. She loved beautiful things and taught my children to play piano. She taught me more about playing than anyone else before, We loved her and though she may be gone we will remember her spirit and her beauty by looking at her paintings and reading books that she gave to me. We love you Lily...Hopefully we will see you again. Thank you Lily, for all you taught me. We send our deepest symapathy and know that a dear soul will be missed greatly. Love, Sherri, John, Joe, Chris and Nick."
In loving memory of
Lilia Piedad Valladares Wilson
March 27, 1917 - January 22, 2002
LILIA WILSON MUSCATINE, Iowa - Lilia Piedad Valladares Wilson, 84, of Muscatine, died Tuesday, January 22, 2002, at the Muscatine Care Center. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, at the Church of the Living Water, 3120 Park Avenue West. The Reverend Mark Anderson will officiate. Pallbearers will be Joseph Ramer, Christopher Ramer, Jack Wilson, Richard Sessler, Bill Leddy and Tom Lee. Honorary Bearers will be Edward Hill, Garry Birkhofer, Andrew Anderson, Ethan Anderson, Nick Pollock and Cran Pollock. Burial will be 11 a.m. at the Rock Island National Cemetery on Monday, January 28, 2002. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Church of the Living Water or the Muscatine Care Center. Mrs. Wilson was born on March 27, 1917, in Havana, Cuba, the daughter of Victor Manuel and Piedad de los Dolores Valladares Garcia. She married Dr. Thomas Courtney Wilson on July 27, 1957, in Havana, Cuba. He preceded her in death in 1984. Lilia Valladares Wilson graduated from the Municipal and International Conservatories of Music in Havana, Cuba in 1948, with degrees in Music Theory and Music Performance, after which she received a scholarship from Chilean pianist, Claudio Arrau in to study at his studios in New York City and later received another scholarship from his assistant Rafael de Silva. Arrau wrote at that time: "I have heard Miss Valladares play and she shows great musical and pianistic talent. I feel sure that she can, with development of her talents and further study, become one of our great future pianists." While studying piano, Mrs. Wilson worked as a proofreader in English, French, and Spanish at the United Nations. After studying with Professors Arrau and de Silva for five years, she made her debut with the Havana Symphony Orchestra, after which Mrs. Wilson concretized in her native Cuba and in the United States. Mrs. Wilson and her husband fled Cuba in 1959, and settled in Muscatine, Iowa, where she performed many concerts locally and in the surrounding communities. During her more than 40 years as a teacher, she taught piano to many promising, young students in Havana, Cuba, from her home in Muscatine, and at Muscatine Community College. She was active member of the Muscatine Artists in Action and had many of her original paintings exhibited at local art shows. In October of 1995 she proudly became a citizen of the United States. She was an honorary member of the Musicians Club of America; and member of the Iowa Arts Council, Muscatine County Museum and Fine Arts Association, Pro Artes Musical, the Havana Philharmonic Orchestra Association, and the Church of the Living Waters. She accepted life's struggles with graceful elegance and a smile on her face, entrusting her fate into God's hands. She will always be remembered as an inspiring teacher, talented artist, loyal friend, loving aunt, and humble servant of God. She is survived by one sister, Margo Perez and her husband, Jose, of Fort Madison; four nieces, Mirta Ramer, Mrs. Linda Lamb, Mrs. Robin Edwards, Mrs. Judy Baker, all of Muscatine; one nephew, Jack Wilson of Muscatine; two great nieces; seven great nephews and special friends Tina Pollock of Chesterfield, Missouri and Donna Lentocha.