Dorothy Wilson

Dorothy Wilson, 97, passed away peacefully January 27, 2026. A Eucharist service will be held for her on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at 11:30 AM at St Timothy’s Episcopal church in West Des Moines. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall. The Service will be live streamed via the following link. https://www.youtube.com/@SaintTimothysIowa/streams

Dorothy was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 9, 1928, as the only child of Edward and Evelyn Meyers. She grew up in Highland, Indiana, married Edward Wilson, and made their home in West Des Moines, Iowa. She lived 97 full years, but numbers don’t explain her. Love does, faith does, service does. The way she made people feel does.

Her hands were almost never still. If something needed doing Dorothy was already halfway there. From volunteering to chairing a committee, giving tours and cleaning the Jordan House, completing a jigsaw puzzle, saving the tabs off your soda cans to benefit the Ronald McDonald house, or teaching a family tradition of rolling Ukrainian bobalki noodles, these we’re all tasks she undertook without pause.

Dorothy was deeply faithful. Her faith wasn’t loud or flashy. It was steady. It carried her through the hardest moments of her life without bitterness or anger. As one of the original founding members of St. Timothy’s, she felt a love and responsibility for her church and her church family. From baking casseroles, assisting with weddings and funerals, preparing the altar, and teaching preschoolers in The Ark, all spoke of joy and love.

Dorothy hugged with meaning; real bear hugs that said I see you, I’ve got you. She cried easily, but never in a troubled way. Her tears were almost always happy ones. She didn’t believe in outsiders. She felt everyone belonged; newcomers, strangers, people who weren’t sure if they fit in - she took them in without questions. In her eyes, everyone was family. Everyone was a child of God, and everyone deserved to feel important.

She was a wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend who made a positive impact on so many lives. She will be truly missed but will always remain in our hearts.

Dorothy is survived by her children Mark (Kim) Wilson and Julie Ann (Rich) Thompson, her son-in-law Steve Campbell, her grandchildren Graham and Bailey Wilson, Leslie (Scott) Swearingen and Ryan (Alyssa) Thompson, Isaac and Aaron Campbell, and her great

grandchildren Lillian, Isabel, and Leigha Swearingen and Gavin, Olivia, and Ella Thompson.

Dorothy is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Edward, and daughter, Michelle.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to St. Timothy’s Church, West Des Moines Historical Society, Ronald McDonald House, or Guiding Eyes for the Blind.