Early Tacoma Bahá’ís – Inga Wilson

 

         Inga Wilson in Tacoma in 1944

 

INGA CAROLINE WILSON

 

February 11, 1895 to September 5, 1984

 

From an interview with Judge Jack Tanner

 

I knew Inga Wilson since I was 10 or 11 years old.  She and Emmerson were married in 1916 – 3 years before I was born.  My father was best man at their wedding.  I worked for Emmerson for a time installing sprinkler systems in Lakewood.

 

When I was a child, there were Alice and Inga (Inga Wilson’s two daughters) and my older sister and me – four children in two families.  I was very found of Inga.  I felt like a son to her, and she considered me as her son, and a part of her family.

 

Inga followed my career.  I know she followed my career up to the time she died – I know this because Elizabeth Johnson would clip out all the news articles and send them to her.  I know Elizabeth very well.  She and Inga were always arguing.  Always!  Yet they were always the best of friends.  I never understood that.  They were always arguing over who was smartest: Norwegians or Swedes.  They would keep us rolling in the isle with laughter.

 

Inga was the most compassionate, thoughtful, and loving person I have ever known.  She didn’t have a prejudiced bone in her body.  She felt no prejudice with regard to race, religion or color.  If ever there was a person who practiced her faith, it was she.  A lot of people just go to church on Sunday.  She was not like that: she lived it and loved it and practiced her faith every day.

 

[Author of the above sketch is unknown.]

 

Obituary

            Inga Wilson, 89, a former Tacoma resident, died Sunday in Las Vegas where she had lived the past several years.

            She was born in Bergen, Norway, and came to Tacoma about 50 years ago. She lived in California before moving to Las Vegas. She was of the Bahá’í Faith.

            Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Nick (Alicia) Georgiade of Las Vegas and Mrs. Richard (Inga) Jay of Tryon, N.C.; a  sister in Norway; and three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

            Buckley-King Downtown is in charge.  

               

            (Tacoma News Tribune, Thursday, September 6, 1984)

 

Comment:

Inga Wilson’s funeral service was held in Tacoma on September 10, 1984.  Judge Jack Tanner spoke at her funeral.

 

 

Federal District Court Judge Jack Tanner

Photo courtesy of www.blackpast.org