Roy E. Wilson

Roy Edward Wilson passed away peacefully in Cumming, Georgia on Thursday, December 9th, 2021 at the age of 90. He never let his battle with dementia affect his sense of humor and love of his family. He was lovingly surrounded by his wife and four adult children at the time of his passing.

Roy was born on April 25, 1931 in Greenwood, South Carolina, to Noble E. “Ebbie” Wilson and Laura Culbreath Wilson, the sixth of seven children. In addition to his siblings, he grew up alongside his nephews, James “Jimmy” Corley, Allen Hamby (deceased), and William “Bill” Hamby. After graduating from Greenwood High School, he enlisted in the United States Army, and served a year and a half in Stuttgart, Germany before returning to Greenwood, SC to attend college at Lander College (now Lander University). During this time, he was a sports writer for the Greenwood Index-Journal. His passion for writing never waned, as he continued to write humorous stories about his life into his late 80’s. He graduated from Lander in 1957 with a Bachelor in Business. Roy then moved to the north, accepting a position in New York City as an advertising executive for National Outdoor Advertising Bureau. He proudly continued to work in the billboard industry until he retired in 2003.

In 1962, he was set up on a blind date with Maryann Koenig to go bowling. As he wrote in one of his hundreds of stories, “Maryann’s bowling score wasn’t too high, but she sure scored with me. We were married a year and a half later.” He married Maryann Koenig in September 1963, converting to Catholicism from Methodism. They moved to Cinnaminson, New Jersey, a suburb outside of Philadelphia, and together, they raised four children - Julie, Andrew “Andy”, Amy, and Michael. He was a loving, devoted father who read to his children at night, sang along with them at the player piano, entertained them with his endless stories and jokes, and took them to baseball games and on road trips and vacations around the Eastern United States. In 1989, Roy, Maryann, and the children moved to Douglasville, Georgia. Roy and his wife joined St. Theresa’s Catholic Church and were active members for over 30 years. Although he was proud of his many achievements, he was most proud of his four children, even as they grew into adulthood.

He was a devout husband, father, and Catholic who enjoyed writing humorous stories about his life, watching baseball and old westerns, collecting books and records, and shopping for bargains in discount stores and dollar stores. He will be remembered for his sense of humor, friendly attitude, and endless assortment of Dad jokes.

He is survived by his wife Maryann (Koenig) Wilson, daughter Julie (Michael Hauger), son Andrew “Andy” (Andrea Zurek), daughter Amy (Robert “Kevin”) Dobbs, and son Michael (Laura) Wilson. He is also survived by his granddaughter Addison Wilson, step-grandson Michael Hauger Jr, and multiple in-laws, nieces, and nephews. He was predeceased by his father, Noble E. Wilson (1978), Laura Culbreath Wilson (1968), and six siblings, Mae Virginia Wilson Corley (1939), Wilma Wilson Brown (2004), Nobel E. “Junior” Wilson (1939), Robert M. Wilson (2003), Ray J. Wilson (2016), and Frank Wilson (1993).

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at 11:00 am at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Douglasville, Georgia.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.whitleygarner.com for the Wilson family.