Ira Charles Wilson Sr.

Growing up, Ira enjoyed and excelled in athletics which instilled in him a life-long passion for sports of all kinds. At age 17, he joined the Navy and served during the end of World War II. After his honorable discharge, he returned to Natchez where he worked for the post office. He later moved to New Orleans where he worked as a parts manager for Ford Motor Company. It was here where Ira met the love of his life, Lucille, where she was also employed. No one could bring fun and laughter into Lucille's life like Ira. They married June 19, 1959, and together they embarked on a full life together raising four children into wonderful adults.

Ira moved the family to Oklahoma City in 1968. This new opportunity was enabled by Chris Speligene, one of his closest colleagues in New Orleans. Chris recruited Ira to a new job in OKC with Fred Jones Remanufacturing, where he worked for almost 30 years.

The family moved to the growing city of Edmond in 1974. Ira loved every aspect about Edmond and Oklahoma, and transferred this appreciation to his family. He had two homes while living in Oklahoma; one in Oklahoma City and one in Edmond. He loved both of these family homes and particularly the (2) next door neighbors from each…Jerry and Jaynie Metcalf & Rick and Donna Green. Ira cultivated life-long friendships with these families and they will be forever close to us all.

Ira first retired from Fred Jones at the age of 65, but then went to work for Don’s Floor Gallery in Edmond, OK, where he was the quintessential “Jack-of-all-Trades”. He “retired” again at age 88.

Ira was a big sports fan and remained loyal to his favorite teams: LSU, Ole Miss, the Sooners and the Atlanta Braves, to name a few. To say he enjoyed the horse races would be a substantial under-statement, he thoroughly enjoyed playing the horses and especially the process of working the racing form – searching for some obscure bit of hidden information that would be the key to finding the winning horse!

Ira’s main passion was for people, and his life priorities were the (4) F’s: Faith, Family, Friends and Food. He had a quiet charisma and treated everyone equally and with respect. He demonstrated a talent for bestowing everyone nicknames – these names were somehow spot-on in adding his own version of humor and color to remembering people. He was very inspirational to his family and friends, always challenging people to be “better” in everything important. He kept his great sense of humor to the very end.

Ira was preceded in death by his parents, his spouse Lucille, and five siblings. He is survived by his daughter, Darlene Loria; son, Sonny E.A, Sanchez (wife Cindi); daughter, Janine Pekrul (husband Don); son, Ira Charles Wilson Jr (wife Anne); grandchildren: Christie, Troy, Erin, Sonny, Jennifer, Jaynie, Julie, Olivia, and Aidan; and great-grandchildren: Lexi, Kody, Julia, and Blake; sister, Joyce; and many other family members and friends.