Barbara Ann Wilson

Barbara Ann Wilson (93) left us on February 10, 2026 to be with her beloved husband, Wallace A Wilson (Wally), who passed in August of 1990.

She was born Barbara Ann Kemp on July 24th, 1932 to Daisy Mae & Victor Alvin Kemp in Colton California. She has been nearly a life long Arizona resident as she was brought to Arizona when was just 6 months old.

Barbara was a proud graduate of Phoenix Union High School in 1951 and spent much of her life as a devoted Mother, homemaker and Chandler community volunteer. In most folk’s retirement years Barbara, at age 72, went to work at the Grand Canyon with her daughter, Clayann Cook, at Papillon Helicopter gift shops. She was the quintessential “winter visitor”, as she travelled each spring to the canyon where she always felt like she was returning to her earliest roots, as her Father was the Sr. Surveyor of Roads for Arizona Dept of Transportation and did the work to create what we now know is Hwy 64 from Williams to the Canyon. When she was just a toddler the Kolb Brothers would often babysit her. She then would return to her home in Mesa each November just in time to see favorite NASCAR driver (Greg Biffle) race at PIR. Barbara did this for 12 years. She was an avid NASCAR fan until the end.

When Barbara returned to valley each fall she gave her all to the Arizona Pioneers Women’s Sorority – ESA International Alpha Kappa #336. Her passion was the fundraisers. She also continued to deliver “Meals on Wheels” to other seniors clear until her mid-80’s.

Barbara will always be remembered for her brilliant smile, infectious laugh, incredible wit and her sheer determined grit!

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her 3rd child James Austin and a granddaughter Courtney Ann Kemp.

She leaves behind very grateful children, Clayann Cook (Jeff,), Vickie Filson, Kemp Alfred Wilson (Jeannie), Sandy Kuntz (Frank) and Leah Hathaway. She loved being a Grandma to Christina Marie Statia, Jennifer L McMahon, Francie Towne, Jeramy Alan Cook, Jacob Kuntz, Timothy & Emily Filson, Samantha Valencia, Justin Wilson, Brittney Coit, Rebecca Wilson, Ashley Wilson and Austin Wilson. She will be missed by her 15 Great Grand Children in the years to come.

Barbara will be laid to rest next to her husband and with 3 generations of family in the Historic Section of Tempe Double Butte Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will be scheduled in April of this year.

Please take a moment to look at just a few photographs of our MOM and you will quickly see why she was so loved and will be missed everyday forward.