Celia Cleo Van Allen Wilson, the daughter of Roy Matthew and Nellie Marie (Robinson) Van Allen, was born October 18, 1914, in Deer Creek Township, Phillips County, Kansas. She died on July 31, 2015, at the age of 100 years, at the Phillips County Retirement Center, Phillipsburg.

Cleo, the oldest of two daughters born to Roy and Nellie, attended Deer Creek No. 5 School through the eighth grade, along with her sister, Pauline. Following her schooling, she worked on farms in the area until 1938, when she moved into Phillipsburg and was employed at the Ed Close home until 1943.

On January 28, 1943, she married Dudley Forrest (Pete) Wilson at the United Methodist parsonage in Phillipsburg. Her sister, Pauline, and Edward Hanson were also married there at the same time.

Cleo and Pete were married until his sudden death in 1979.

Cleo began a long working career at the A.L. Duckwall's store in Phillipsburg in 1945. She worked both full time and part time there until 1977. Her second career in retail sales began in 1981, when she started working at Tots and Teens in Phillipsburg. She continued employment there until 1999.

Her personal life was enhanced in great part because of her work in the Order of Eastern Star. She became a member of the Phillipsburg Pleiades Chapter #168 of Eastern Star in 1943 and was a member for more than 70 years. She was Worthy Matron of the Chapter in 1954, a District Aide in 1969, and the Grand Representative of Nebraska in Kansas for one year. She made many trips across the state for Eastern Star functions.

Cleo was a member of the First Methodist Church in Phillipsburg. She joined on April 1, 1962.

She was also President of the Phillips County Hospital Auxiliary, a past president and charter member of the Modern Study Club of Phillipsburg, a UMW Thrift Shop volunteer and a Grey Ladies volunteer.

During her later years, she and Pauline spent many hours together visiting and hosting relatives, taking trips, playing cards and babysitting for family members.

Cleo became a resident of the Phillips County Retirement Center in October 2010, joining her sister, Pauline, there. Early on at PCRC they had rooms across the hall from each other. Cleo remained a big sister to Pauline and cared for her daily prior to Pauline's death on February 20, 2014.

Cleo was able to celebrate her 100th birthday with a large gathering of friends and family on October 18, 2014, at the Retirement Center.

Survivors include nephews Gary Hanson (Kay) of Christiansburg, VA; Robert Hanson (Amy) of Lawrence, KS; Phil Denver (Kay) of St. Joseph, MO; Harlan Wilson (Rita), Chula Vista, CA; nieces Alice Denver, St. Joseph, MO; Betty Wilson, Rochester, MN; close friends Shirley and Bob Quanz, Glade; many cousins, great-nephews and great-nieces; and a host of friends.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 5, 2015 in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with Pastor Lew Van Der Wege officiating. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg.

Mrs. Wilson will lie in state from Noon until 9:00 p.m. Monday and again Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the funeral chapel.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriner's Crippled Childrens Fund