Arthur Wilson

Services for Arthur "Art" Wilson, 84, of Longview will be held at 10 AM Saturday in the Chapel of Rader Funeral Home with Reverend Bobby Moore officiating. Entombment will follow in Lakeview Mausoleum. Mr. Wilson passed away Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at his home. Services are under the direction of Rader Funeral Home of Longview. Arthur Warren Wilson was born January 26, 1924, in Hobart, Oklahoma, to Joe Warren and Esther Isetta Wilson. He grew up in the Oklahoma City area where he graduated from Central High School. When he was 18 and draft age, the draft board gave him an extension to finish High School, but once graduated, he volunteered and enlisted in the U. S. Navy on June 9, 1943. After basic training, Art was put on the U.S.S. Cabot, a small aircraft carrier, for a 3-1/2 day trip to Pearl Harbor, where he was assigned to an Assault Personnel vessel used for transporting troops back and forth from ships to shore. His vessel would go to Pearl Harbor, pick up troops and take them to various islands for battle, and then pick up the wounded. The waters would sometimes be so filled with bodies of the wounded or dead that it was difficult to maneuver through them, a vision that would cause him nightmares for the rest of his life. He was in a ship bound for Japan when the atomic bomb was dropped there, so he was diverted to Guam to await orders and eventually be sent home, being discharged after 2 years, 18 months, and 16 days. Shortly after his discharge, Art went to work for Stanolind Oil and Gas, which later became Amoco Oil, in their Seismograph Department. He met his wife Theresa in Chickasha, Oklahoma, and they were married on August 26, 1947. They moved often and lived in many different places in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi. In December, 1961, he was transferred to the Production Department of Amoco in Longview, where they have lived ever since. He had 38 years of service with Amoco before retiring in 1984. Art and Theresa had two dearly loved and cherished sons, Steve Alan and Charles Guy, both of whom have preceded him in death, causing Art to feel that a large part of him was missing. Art himself was a very strong, healthy individual who was never ill and had never been hospitalized during his 84 years until March 3rd of this year. Left to cherish his memories are his wife of 60 years, Theresa; two daughters-in-law, Gail Wilson of Kilgore and Jana Wilson of Celina; 3 grandchildren, Cara Jo of College Station and Evan and Sara of Celina; Cara Jo's fiancée, Cole McQueen, also of College Station; brother Joe Edward Wilson and wife Grace of Monroe, Louisiana, and their family; and dearly beloved brother-in-law Jerry Bridges and wife Lorene of Blanchard, Oklahoma, and their family. He was also blessed with many good friends, co-workers, and church family. In lieu of floral contributions, donations may be made to the Oncology Clinic of Longview Volunteers, Highway 80 Rescue Mission, Habitat for Humanity, Heart's Way Hospice, or any charity of your choice.

Arthur Wilson

January 26, 1924 - March 26, 2008