Wilma Jean (Kuhns) Carlson

Wilma Jean (Kuhns) Carlson passed away peacefully on January 9, 2026, at age 95, at the Hannah B. G. Shaw Home in Middleborough, MA, where she had been living since 2018. Wilma was born in Ligonier Township, the daughter of James Ralph and Margaret Elizabeth (Wisner) Kuhns. She graduated from Latrobe High School in 1948 and married Elmer Harold Carlson (d. 1995), also of Ligonier Township, in 1951. They moved to Darlington and became members of St. John’s United Church of Christ, where she became a leader in its activities, especially its annual Bazaar held every fall. A woman of strong personality and character, she worked in the cafeterias of Ligonier Valley public schools, eventually rising to the position of cafeteria manager at the R. K. Mellon Elementary School. A talented artist, she was a member of art clubs in Ligonier and Latrobe. She is survived by her three sons: Larry (Barbara) of Carver, Massachusetts; Dean (Jadwiga) of Perrysburg, Ohio; and Danny (Patsy) of Georgetown, South Carolina); and six grandchildren (Emmett (Ann), Lily (Peter) Stone, Lizzy (Andrew) Palumbo, Lena (Nathan) Shay, Nicholas and Jonathan and six great grandchildren (Mason and Temple Carlson, Ariella and Willow Stone, Tieghan and Rory Shay) and numerous nieces and nephews. As an expression of sympathy, donations in her name can be made to the Hannah B. G. Shaw Home (299 Wareham St., Middleborough, MA, 02346, www.theshawhome.org). To send online condolences or to sign the online guestbook, please visit the O’Neill Funeral Home (oneillfuneral.com). Please address requests for information regarding a celebration of her life that will take place this summer in Ligonier to dean.carlson20@gmail.com or ljcarlson75@gmail.com.

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