Winnie R. Wilson, a beloved special education teacher and administrator in the Champaign public school district, died Monday, Sept. 22, at C-U Regional Rehab Center. She would have been 93 in November. Her late husband, James C. Wilson, was an All American college football player who was an assistant track coach at the University of Illinois at the time of his death.

Visitation will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church, 1203 W Green St, Urbana, IL 61801 from 2-4 on Sunday September 28, and a Funeral Service to follow at 4pm.

Winnie Wilson was born in San Antonio, Texas, on November 8, 1921 where she dreamed of becoming a teacher. After graduating from high school, she earned a scholarship to West Virginia State University. It was there that she met and married her husband, a football and swimming coach who also was director of the University's Student Union and Recreation. The couple had two children, James Jr. and Karen, and moved to Champaign-Urbana in 1961 when James Sr. was offered his coaching job at the U of I.

After her husband died unexpectedly in 1967 while traveling with the U of I track team, Winnie Wilson, who had only recently begun teaching full time, was left to raise the couple's children alone. She went back to school, earning a Master's Degree in education in 1970, and became known as an exemplary teacher and administrator who is still remembered fondly by former students. She retired in 1996. She was a longtime member of Wesley Methodist Church, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and Altrusa International.

Winnie is survived by her daughter Karen Wilson, a graduate of the U of I law school who is an attorney with the United States Dept. of Justice in Washington D.C., and grandson Campbell James, age 16. James Jr., who died in 2006, was a well-known local radio personality and writer who had been a star athlete and senior class president at Urbana High.

Winnie's courage and perseverance in the face of adversity made her a role model for many. She will be missed by all who knew her.

In lieu of flowers, if the spirit moves, please consider making a donation in her name to Reading is Fundamental (http://www.rif.org/). Condolences may be offered online at www.renner-wikoffchapel.com