Hal McLain Wilson, 77, of Statesville graduated with highest honors from this earthly world Monday, October 29th and was welcomed into heaven’s choir and eternal fellowship with his heavenly Father. It was a beautiful day for him because he was finally reunited with his loving wife and escaped from the prison Alzheimer’s had placed upon his mind and body.
He was born in Iredell County to Eula Mae & Ralph Wilson on August 30, 1941 and was proud to have been a Central Comet. He graduated in 1960 and worked a few places trying to find his calling. He found it in the banking industry and worked in banking until his retirement from BB&T. A lot of people knew him from his job in banking and he always considered it a blessing to be able to help people achieve their dreams. He was proud to have been able to retire early and move back to the family farm where he grew up and share that with his family.
A huge calling on his life was music. As a young teen he worked hard to buy his first guitar and taught himself to play. Any free moment he had his entire life was spent learning new songs on his guitar or learning to play other instruments like the mandolin or dobro. He played in quite a few bands during his lifetime. He started a rock band in high school with some friends and they made the circuit of high school dances impressing the ladies, including Barbara Ruth Bustle, who became his wife of over 50 years. Once the young couple had their daughter, Amye, the rock band morphed into a popular gospel group called the Philomels. This group had success producing several albums and appearing on TV many times. Later in life, he played in bluegrass groups and country groups with friends and taught many kids to play guitar. He always sang at church and in church choirs and aside from his family music was his life’s love.
Hal was the epitome of a family man. A wonderful and devoted husband, father and grandfather who was always good for a pep talk or a hug and always, always, always there for his family in every single way. He loved his family with, not only words, but actions that they can still see today even though he is gone. His parents and his wife Barbara preceded him in death but he leaves behind his daughter Amye Wilson Burks and her husband Adrian and also his grandchildren, Christian Stroud, Joshua Stroud, Savanna Stroud, Mackenzie Burks and Khirsten, Kyle and Kieran Battle. He also leaves behind his two sisters in law, Dorothy Cash and Peggy Hill and his sister Elaine Morrison (Gale). He also has many nieces, nephews and lots of friends who will miss him greatly.
The family will receive friends this Thursday, November 1st beginning at 12 noon at South River Baptist Church with the service to begin at 1 pm in the sanctuary with Dr. Chris Thompson officiating. Entombment services will be at Iredell Memorial Gardens. Serving as pallbearers will be his loving grandson’s Christian & Joshua Stroud and his beloved nephews Richard Cash Sr., Richard Cash, Jr., Craig Hill and Jason Lowrance.
If you would like to donate to celebrate Hal’s life the family would love for you to send a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association so we can find a cure for this awful disease that steals your memories and the people that we love. You can donate online at www.alz.org
Those wishing to leave an online condolence for the family may do so at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com
Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Wilson family.
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