Dr. David Wilson

Dr. David Wilson, 87, of Evansville, passed away on Wednesday, February 10, at The Terrace at Solarbron. He was born in Shafter, California on December 9, 1922 to Wesley Wilson, Jr. and Olive Marilda Purdue Wilson.

The family returned from Shafter to Yankeetown, Indiana, and then to Evansville, where David graduated from Bosse High School in 1940. He did his pre-med at Asbury College for three years; then enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a medic in the Pacific Theater during WWII. After the War, he graduated from IU School of Medicine in 1950. He also met his wife, Janet Rose Webb Wilson, at IU, where she was studying for her R.N. They were married July 2, 1949, in Richmond, Indiana, Janet’s home town.

David did his internship at Fresno County Hospital in California; his residency at St. Francis Hospital in San Francisco; and then he and Janet settled in Evansville. Dr. Wilson first practiced general (family) medicine with his cousin, Dr. Ralph Wilson, and was on the staffs at Deaconess, Welborn, and St. Mary’s Hospitals for about ten years. He returned to school at IU Medical Center in 1961 to specialize in anesthesia, which he practiced for the rest of his career, primarily at Deaconess.

He retired from Deaconess Anesthesiology in 1993 after thirty years. He then began a part-time anesthesia career with Dr. Talley’s cataract clinic in 1995, for about nine more years. He practiced medicine for a total of over fifty years.

He was a member of the American Medical Association, Indiana State Medical Society, Vanderburgh Medical Society, and American Society of Anesthesiologists. He was a Diplomate of the American Board of Anesthesiology.

Doc was a co-founder and teacher of Deaconess Hospital’s School of Respiratory Therapy, and was on the Anesthesiology Team at Deaconess that pioneered open-heart surgery in Evansville in 1975.

David was active in Boy Scouts; he was a leader and Institutional Representative for Troop 301 at the Methodist Temple. He accompanied two groups of scouts to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico and hiked the mountain trails with them in 1974 and 1976.

Doc was elected Vanderburgh County Coroner and served two terms from 1977 to 1984. He worked out the plan for the present Regional Coroner’s Morgue.

He and Janet were founding members of the Friday Night Dance Club, board members of The Coterie Dance Club, and they taught ballroom dance for over twenty-five years. They were also over fifty-year members of the Methodist Temple, and charter members of Rolling Hills Country Club. Doc and Jan were also long-time UE basketball supporters and Evansville Philharmonic supporters.

David was a life member of The Olde Tyme Auto Club, and a member of the Classic Car Club of America and the Antique Car Club of America. He owned and restored several Model A’s, Model T’s and a 1929 Packard.

David was an avid golfer, sailor, boater, and water-skier. He was also an amateur astronomer, computer hobbyist, and a life-long reader and student of many subjects. He did a thorough review of new medical practices every five years to keep himself current in his practice.

David was preceded in death by his parents, and by his wife, Janet, in 2007, after fifty-eight years of marriage.

David is survived by his three sisters: Mrs. Enid Powell of Hillville, TN; Mrs. June Hough of Gastonia, NC; and Esther (Paul) White of Ransom, IL. He is also survived by his daughters; Kathy (Joe) Weber, Jenny (Curt) Freeman, Lucy (Ron) Evans, and son, Doug (Terri) Wilson; grandchildren; Jenny (Nick) Wiley, Sam (Erin) Weber, Tim (fiancée Sarah Klein) Weber, and Annie Weber, Brian Freeman, Brandi Morris, Emily (Rich) Dykstra, Sarah and Rachel Evans; and three great-grandsons; Drew and Connor Wiley, and Cameron Dykstra.

The family would like to thank the staffs of The Terrace at Solarbron, Visiting Nurse Plus, and VistaCare Hospice.

Services will be 2:30 PM Sunday, February 14, 2010, at Methodist Temple, 2109 Lincoln Avenue, officiated by Rev. Chris Neikirk and Rev. John Hilbert with burial at Bates Hill Cemetery in Yankeetown where military rites will be conducted. Friends may visit Saturday from 2:00 to 8:00 PM at Alexander East Chapel, 2115 Lincoln Avenue and Sunday from 1:30 PM until service time at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Boy Scouts of America, Buffalo Trace Council, 3501 E. Lloyd Expressway, Evansville, IN, 47715; The Methodist Temple, 2109 Lincoln Ave., Evansville, IN, 47714; or the University of Evansville Scholarship Fund, 1800 Lincoln Ave., Evansville, IN, 47722.