Ronald Wilson

Ronald (Ron) Lee Wilson was born August 24, 1939, in Circleville, Centre County, PA, the son of Paul Lester and Grace Decker Wilson. Two weeks after turning 17, Ron joined the US Air Force (USAF) where he served for four (4) years as an airplane mechanic. After being Honorably Discharged, he returned to PA where he worked for HRB Singer, a Defense contractor, and met the love of his life, Judith Ann (“Ann”) Lewis, who had served honorably in the US Marine Corps and is the daughter of a career Army officer.

After a few years, Ron longed again for the Air Force life and re-enlisted, continuing to work on planes, earning his GED. He served in Germany and many US states from Alaska to Maine, including at multiple Strategic Air Command units. When serving at Andrews Air Force Base, he not only worked on Air Force One, but also had the privilege of taxiing it on occasion. They retired in the Dover, DE area where they worked, including together owning and operating Shade Tree Mechanics auto repair. Their enjoyed was making and flying remote-controlled airplanes, some with wingspans over 6 feet across, from which they also did aerial photography. Ron and Ann moved to Nacogdoches in 2014 to live closer to Ann’s family. As a consequence of Ron’s Parkinson’s Disease, he wasn’t able to be as active as in the past, yet he really enjoyed TV and movies, especially his westerns.

Ron is survived by his wife of 54 years, Ann Wilson, his sisters-in-law, Toni Trees, and Robin Moore and husband, Dr. John T. Moore. He is also survived by his sister, Patsy Johnstonbaugh and husband Ed, along with numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. He was predeceased by both parents and his older sister, Betty.

A small family graveside service will be held in the future, when Ron’s inurned remains will be interred at Cushing Cemetery, next to Ann’s parents. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages gifts in Ron’s memory to your favorite charity or to the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, PO Box 61420, Staten Island, NY.

Arrangements are under the direction of Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors, Nacogdoches.