Laura Belle Wilson, 90

HARRINGTON - Laura Belle Wilson, of Harrington, passed Monday, March 10, 2008, in Capitol Health Services, Dover. She was 90.

Mrs. Wilson was born May 22, 1917, in Vernon, the daughter of the late Powell and Lelia E. Hopkins.

Her first job was at the Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill, Smyrna, in 1936.

She married James T. Wilson on Dec. 4, 1936.

They moved to the Wilson Family Farm in 1944. In 1948, they bought a restaurant in Harrington that was located next to the First National Bank and sold it in 1952 to move back to the farm.

Mrs. Wilson also drove the family-owned school bus from 1952 to 1969.

She was the first woman bus driver at the Harrington School.

Mrs. Wilson then worked for the Harrington Raceway, Georgetown Raceway and Dover Downs in admissions and publicity until 1974.

She became deputy receiver of taxes and county treasurer in August 1974.

Mrs. Wilson became the receiver of taxes and county treasurer in Kent County from 1978 through 1990, then decided to retire due to age.

She was also the first woman to hold the position of receiver of taxes and county treasurer.

Mrs. Wilson was a member of the 9th District Democrat Club, where she had served as president for two years, the Southern Democrat Club, Community Democrat Club, the Kent County Women's Club, the Home Demonstration Club, the Women's Benefit Association and the Rebekah Lodge, Harrington Senior Center, Harrington Fire Co. Ladies Auxiliary, and Prospect United Methodist Church, Harrington.

She also volunteered with the Milford Hospital Fund Drive, the Heart Association, the Red Cross and during World War II had the distinction of being an airplane spotter in Vernon.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Wilson was preceded in death by her husband, James Thomas Wilson in 1984; and a brother Alfred Jacob "Buck" Hopkins in 1995.

She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Robert A. and Mary Ann Wilson; two grandchildren, Lori Wilson Rebuck and her husband Michael and Lisa Ann Wilson; and two great-grandchildren, Chase Michael Rebuck and Carley Nicole Rebuck, all of Harrington.

Friends may call from 7-9 p.m. Thursday in the Harrington Fire Co. Memorial Hall, 20 Clark St., Harrington.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Friday, also at the Harrington Fire Co. Memorial Hall, where friends may call after noon.

Burial will be in Hollywood Cemetery, Milford-Harrington Highway, Harrington.

Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions to either Prospect United Methodist Church, c/o Jeanne Lee Camper, 5118 Whiteleysburg Road, Harrington, DE 19952; or the Harrington Fire Co. Ladies Auxiliary, c/o Doris Calhoun, 6810 Brownsville Road, Harrington, DE 19952.

Arrangements by McKnatt, Carpenter & Baker Funeral Home, 50 Commerce St., Harrington.