William H. "Pete" Wilson's Obituary
William H. “Pete” Wilson was born on Wednesday, August 8, 1928, in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, to William M. Wilson and L.G. Burdette Wilson. He died on Tuesday, June 10, 2014, in Longview. Pete had five loving siblings: Jean, Charley, Harriet, Alyce Kay, and Margaret. Pete was preceded in death by his parents and by his brother Jean; his brother Charley, who was killed in action on Iwo Jima; his sister Margaret, who passed away as a child; and his sister Harriet Wilson Courington.
Pete, a member of Alpine Presbyterian Church, was a 1946 graduate of Broken Arrow High School, where he played center for four years. After graduation from HS, Pete enlisted in the US Army and was stationed in Korea. Upon his return to the United States, Pete attended Oklahoma A&M College (now Oklahoma State University), from which he was graduated in 1952 with a degree in Agriculture. Because of his ROTC training at Oklahoma A&M, Pete was recalled to the Army as a 2nd Lieutenant and was shipped back to Korea; by the time of his discharge from the service he had risen to the rank of 1st Lieutenant.
When he returned to civilian life, Pete began work for Earl-Lee Industries in the American West as a uranium prospector. After a year of work in the desert, Pete moved to Longview and managed the Petroleum Building downtown.
The following year, Pete began a very successful, 25-year career as a fertilizer salesman with Swift & Co. After his retirement from Swift & Co., Pete began a 13-year career selling fertilizer for Gold Kist. When he retired from Gold Kist, he worked for three years with Terrall River Services, coordinating the shipping of fertilizer on barges.
After his final retirement, Pete returned to Longview. Once here, he met his loving wife, Barbara. Pete and Barbara were married in 2004 and enjoyed 10 wonderful years together. “Mr. Pete” was the beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather to a large, happy family whose members adored him.
Pete is survived by his loving wife, Barbara Wilson; his sister, Alyce Kay Wilson Garrett; his stepchildren, Greg and Michelle Stewart, Pam Ferguson, Charles and Mellissa McCreary, Wayne and Tommie Whitten, Michael Ferguson, and Kelly and Jennifer Ferguson; his 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; his nieces and nephews, Larry and Donna Courington, Greg and Cindy Courington, and Alyce Faye and Steve Sparks; his great-nieces and nephews, Will and Kate Courington, Jason and Mandy Courington, and Logan White; and many other extended family members too numerous to list.
Visitation will be Thursday, June 12, 2014, from 5 - 7 PM at Rader Funeral Home on Judson Road. Services will be at 2 PM on Friday, June 13 at Rader, followed by interment at Memory Park Cemetery, 2823 East Marshall Avenue. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Cancer Society or the Trinity School of Texas.
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