Lois Fair Wilson

REDLANDS - Lois Fair Wilson, a native of Redlands and recipient of many
honors for her work and community volunteerism, died April 24, 2016, at the age of 92.
She was a third-generation citrus grower and a champion of children, the arts and this
community.
She was born March 17, 1924, in Redlands Community Hospital which was then
on the corner of Nordina and Clark streets to parents Bert and Emma Fair. Her
grandparents, Leopold and Mary Lederer were Austria-Hungary immigrants who
purchased a five-acre ranch considered a "young citrus nursery" on Crafton Avenue in
1900 and built the house there in 1905.
Her grandfather worked the grove, and her grandmother was a grader at the nearby
Crafton Mutual Packing House on the corner of Crafton and Colton avenues. Her mother
and aunt Julia Lederer attended the original Crafton School. Later the grandparents
purchased the 12-acre ranch on Walnut later owned by Wilson's sister Marilyn Burchill
and husband George. Throughout the years, the Jacinto family managed the groves.
Her father farmed their grove and worked as a floor manager at Crafton Mutual
when Dave DeRoo was manager. "Orange juice must be in our blood," Wilson once said
of her family's extensive interest in the groves.
She attended Crafton Elementary and graduated in1941 from Redlands High
School where she was on the Makio yearbook staff and was a member of Kimberly
Juniors meeting with founder/patron Mary Kimberly Shirk.
Wilson wanted to be a librarian, but the closest program was at USC, so she
received her bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of Redlands
in 1945. She resided at that time at home but was a member of the Alpha Theta Phi
sorority and later was a patroness of the sorority.
She earned her master's degree in education from the University of Southern
California and later earned a doctorate in elementary curriculum from the University of
Arizona.
During her professional career, she was an elementary teacher and administrator
with the Trona, Long Beach and Mission school districts and held several summer
positions in the education departments of Stanford and Chapman universities along with
Cal State San Bernardino. She served as a curriculum consultant for the San Bernardino
County Office of Education.
Wilson taught at University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University. She was a
curriculum consultant for the Tucson Unified School District, and was a teacher with the
Easter Seal Society, working with hard of hearing and deaf children.
She was principal at Fort Lowell Elementary School in Tucson and vice principal
at the new Victoria Elementary School in Redlands.
She was an assistant professor at UR, serving as coordinator of elementary
education, student teachers, the intern program and summer demonstration programs.
She married Herbert Wilson in 1964 and before his death in 1989 they traveled the
globe, often leading tours. During the summers, they would take teacher groups to
Mexico to learn about the language and culture. The couple also taught on two voyages
of Chapman University's World Campus Afloat.
Her many community activities include founding board member of the Redlands
Historical Museum Association; serving on the Redlands Symphony Guild's board and
teaching their children's docent program in the schools; serving 20 years on the
Symphony Gala Committee; many years as a board member of the Redlands Art
Association's Margaret Clark Art Education Endowment Fund; and a puppeteer for the
Assistance League of Redlands Wise-Up puppet show against drugs.
She was a member of the Redlands Area Historical Society; Friends of A.K.
Smiley Public Library; April Morning Club of Redlands; The Spinet music organization;
a 50-year member of the American Association of University Women; and served as
president of UR's Town and Gown Board.
Her honors include Honorary Life Membership in the California PTA; Town and
Gown's "Woman of Distinction" award in 1993; and the UR's Centennial Award and an
Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award. A University of Redlands endowed
scholarship has been established in her name.
Her honorary professional organizations included Alpha Delta Kappa, Delta Kappa
Gamma, Kappa Delta Pi, Phi Delta Kappa and Phi Lambda Theta. She also was a
member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, National
Council of Teachers of English, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and the
Association for the Education of Young Children.
For the "Those Who Made a Difference in Redlands" 1995 quilt, Wilson signed her
name and wished to be remembered as an "Advocate for Children and the Arts."
She is survived by her sister, Marilyn Fair Burchill of Coronado.
A Celebration of Life is planned at Redlands Country Club Tuesday, May 10, at
4:30 p.m., with private burial in Hillside Cemetery. Emmerson-Bartlett is in charge of
arrangements.
Memorial donations may be made in her name to: Redlands Historical Museum
Association, Inc., P.O. Box 470, Redlands 92373; or to the Lois Fair Wilson Scholarship
C/O University of Redlands Development Office, PO Box 3080, Redlands Ca 92373.