Chelton Finch Wilson

Chelton F. Wilson, age 97, was born October 21, 1920, in Ogden, Tennessee. He was the youngest child of Jay Finch and Della May Wilson. Chelton married his late wife, Betty Ruth Pringle, May 7, 1949, at Dauphin Way Methodist Church. He is survived by his two children, Hugh E. Wilson (Denese) of Spanish Fort, AL and David C. Wilson (Pam) of Gainesville, FL; his grandchildren, Daniel Wilson (Nicolai) of Nashville, TN, Amanda Gray (Steven) of Spanish Fort, Ashley Root (Braeden) of Spanish Fort, Andrew Wilson of Gainesville, FL, and Leah Wilson of Gainesville, FL; and his great-grandchildren, Owen Root, Nora Root, and Zoe Wilson. Chelton was preceded in death by his parents, Jay Finch Wilson and Della May Freiley Wilson; his wife, Betty Ruth Pringle Wilson; a daughter, Debra Wilson; and nine siblings, Roy, May, Emmett, Pearl, Daisy, Sue, Ruby, Laura, and Rose.

He graduated from Chattanooga City High School and served in the Army Air Corp in WWII, attaining the rank of Staff Sargent. Chelton was Honorably Discharged November 16, 1945, and was stationed for much of the war in Agra India, 3rd Air Depot 3rd Air Squadron where he worked in the machine shop helping repair and maintain military aircraft such as the C46, P45, P39, P51, P38 and P40. Before working in the machine shop he had to carry a 12 lb Thompson Sub Machine Gun and 8 lb of ammunition. He told us that one of his best days in life was when he was able to trade it for a 4.5lbs M1 carbine that only required you to carry 5 lb of ammunition. Part of his job was flying the hump to supply the Chinese vs Japanese in WWII. He sold newspapers at 8 years of age for $.03 each with a penny profit, had a paper route at 13; was a Boy Scout - Star Scout, Machinist and Tool and Die Maker, and Foreman in the Machine Shop at Brookley Air Force Base. When Brookley Air Force Base shut down he went to work for the Defense Contract Administration Service, retiring in 1974, and smashed his alarm clock with a hammer on the day he retired from Civil Service. Chelton was a member of Kingswood UMC for 42+ years here he served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, was a Master Mason with the Masonic Lodge, and a loving husband and father. He loved fishing and caught more than his share. He owned 50+ boats and was buying and rebuilding boats until age 92. He built his first home, developed a subdivision, and was at the courthouse during the Scopes – Monkey Trial.

A visitation for Chelton will occur Thursday, December 21, 2017, from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at Radney Funeral Home, Mobile. The funeral service will be held Thursday at 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Pine Crest Cemetery. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.radneyfuneralhome-mobile.com for the Wilson family.