Margaret Bilby
b. 26 June 1916, d. 26 September 2003
- Father: William S. Bilby b. 4 December 1865
- Mother: Jesse Wright b. 17 September 1874
- Margaret Bilby was born on 26 June 1916 in Fairbury, Jefferson County, Nebraska.
- The following appeared on 3 September 1933 in the Lincoln Journal and Star: (Fairbury) Miss Margaret Bilby was crowned sweetheart of the Fairbury DeMolay chapter, at a chapter dance Friday evening.
- The following appeared on 10 September 1933 in the Lincoln Journal and Star: Margaret Bilby, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Bilby of Fairbury, will register as a freshman in the univeristy [of Nebraska] this fall. She was graduated from the Fairbury high school in June. Margaret's sisters, Mrs. E. T. Lindgren of Grand Island and Mrs. H. L. Bedell of Augusta, Kas., attended the university and were charter members of Phi Mu sorority.
- She married James Allen Wilson on 15 October 1938 in Fairbury, Jefferson County, Nebraska, at the First Presbyterian Church.
- The following appeared on 16 October 1938 in The Nebraska State Journal: Miss Margaret Bilby, daughter of Mrs. W. S. Bilby of Fairbury, became the bride of James Allen Wilson, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Wilson of Nebraska City, Saturday at 7:30 p. m. at a ceremony perfomed at the First Presbyterian church at Fairbury. Rev. Harry F. Huntington officiated in the presence of 125 guests. Five branch candelabra holding tapers, and bouquets of mums formed the altar decorations. A white satin drapery was in the background. Mrs. Harold Chatelain was at the organ.
The bride appeared wearing her mother's wedding gown of ivory brocaded satin, fashioned with a tight bodice, leg of mutton sleeves and a full skirt. The veil which was floor length, was fastened at the back of the head with tiny white ostrich tips. Her only jewelry was a garnet star at the neck, which is a family heirloom. Miss Jeanne Russell and Miss Lucille Wiggins were bridesmaids, and wore dresses of wisteria alpaca crepe, trimmed in pastel printed lame. They were cut on princess lines. Lame sashes hung from the shoulders to the floor. Best man was Robert R. Wilson, brother of the bridegroom. Frederick Eiche of Lincoln, Robert Hilsebeck, Fred Kudrna and Delbert Babcock were the ushers. The bride was given in marriage by her btother, Robert W. Bilby.
Following the ceremony there was a reception and candles and flowers formed the decorations on the table at which a wedding cake was the centerpiece. The bride's sisters, Mrs. H. L. Bedell, Mrs. E. T. Lindgren, Mrs. Arthur Bailey of Lincoln, and Mrs. H. Hedgecock, assisted in the serving. About 30 Lincoln guests were at the wedding. The bride chose for travel a three piece black suit with a satin blouse. Her accessories were black.
The couple will live in Lincoln where the bridegroom is associated in business with the Eiche Floral company. - The following appeared on 23 January 1940 in The Nebraska State Journal: (Births) Mr. and Mrs. James Allan Wilson (Margaret Bilby), 1250 Dakota, a girl, Jan. 19.
- Margaret Bilby became a widow at the 24 February 1941 death of her husband James Allen Wilson.
- The following appeared on 25 February 1941 in The Nebraska State Journal: James A. Wilson, 27, died Monday at his home in Nebraska City after an illness of two years. Reared in Lincoln, he was graduated in 1936 from University of Nebraska, where he was a member of Signa Nu and the Pershing Rifles. He married Margaret Bilby of Fairbury, who survives him with their daughter, Nancy, 15 months old. Also surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Allan Wilson of Nebraska City; brother, Robert of Falls City, and sister, Josephine, of Ames, Ia. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a. m. Wednesday in Nebraska City.
- She married George Walter Weiler Jr., son of George Walter Weiler and Elizabeth Rebecca McCoy, on 8 December 1945 in El Dorado, Butler County, Kansas.
- The following appeared on 17 July 1946 in the Lincoln State Journal: Miss Josephine Wilson, daughter of Mrs. Lula R. Wilson of Nebraska City became the bride of Ellis A. Hicks, son of Mrs. J. I. Hicks and the late Mr. Hicks of Lamoni, Ia., Tuesday evening at 8 o'clock. The ceremony was performed at the home of the bride's mother, in front of the fireplace, which was decorated with huckleberry green and baskets of gladioli. Rev. R. C. Rodgers of the Episcopal church performed the ceremony in the presence of 50 guests.
The bride wore a gown of ivory satin trimmed in Belgian lace which had been worn by her mother when she was married, and a fingertip veil of tulle was held by orange blossoms. Her matron of honor, Mrs. George W. Weiler, Fairbury, was gowned in blue chiffon. Both the bride and her matron of honor carried cascade bouquets of gladioli. Marjorie Wilson was flower girl.
William J. Booher of Missouri Valley, Ia., served as best man.
A reception followed the ceremony.
Mrs. Hicks is a graduate of Iowa State college at Ames, Ia., and Mr. Hicks also received his G. S. degree from Iowa State college.
August Eiche attended the wedding from Lincoln. - Margaret Bilby died on 26 September 2003 at age 87 in Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska.
- George Walter Weiler Jr. became a widower at her death.
- The following appeared on 30 September 2003 in The Grand Island Independent: Margaret Weiler, 87, of Grand Island died Friday, Sept. 26, 2003, at Grand Island.
A memorial reception will be held at the George Weiler home at 2820 W. Koenig from 2 to 5 p.m. Oct. 18. All her friends are invited. There will be no visitation. Cremation has already taken place.
Mrs. Weiler was born June 26, 1916, in Fairbury to William and Jesse (Wright) Bilby.
Survivors of the immediate family include two daughters and sons-in-law, Nancy Wilson-Wajdyk and husband, Earl, of Mount Pleasant, Mich., and Sally and Timothy Browne of Oakdale, Minn.
Additional survivors include grandchildren, Tim Priebe, Sarah Priebe, Dan Priebe, Mike Priebe, Josh Browne, Kate Browne; seven great-grandchildren; a niece, Patricia Wissel, and her husband, Bob; and dear friends, Teddy King and Lavonne Wieser.
She grew up in Fairbury and graduated from Fairbury High School and the University of Nebraska.
She married George Weiler Dec. 8, 1945, in El Dorado, Kan. The coupled lived in Fairbury, Southbend, Ind., Maitland, Fla., and Grand Island.
She was a homemaker.
She was a member of PEO and Chi Omega.
Her hobbies and interests included bridge, cooking, reading, painting and crossword puzzles.
Margaret loved her family and friends and will be greatly missed by all.
She was preceded in death by her brothers, Robert Bilby and John Bilby; sisters, Eloise Lindgren and Frances Bedell; and grandson, Christopher Priebe.
Memorials are suggested to the Humane Society.
- Last Edited: 27 Oct 2014