Richard Lloyd Wilson

Richard Lloyd Wilson passed away peacefully on October 24, 2026, with family at his bedside. He was 97 years old. Richard was born January 9, 1929, in Alton, Illinois to Lloyd Alva Wilson and Georgia Catherine Boggett Wilson. Richard was predeceased by his wife, Louise Anita Bennett, (2022), his son, Jeffrey Richard Wilson (1968), and sister, Georgia Margaret Wilson (2010).

Richard was a resident of Tyler, TX for many years. Following a hospital stay in 2023, Richard moved from Tyler, TX to Plano, TX, to an assisted living community in order to be closer to his family.

Richard was the second born child after his older sister Georgia Margaret, then followed his brother Ronald Keith and another brother, Maurice Lee. Sadly, Maurice died of a disease at a very young age, which was especially hard on his parents.

Richard was often called “Dick” when he was growing up and his brother, Ronald, was “Ronnie”. The boys were only 18 months apart. They remained close friends all their lives. The Wilson children had a regular working-class upbringing, with their father employed as a pipe fitter and a union man for Shell Oil for 30 years, and their mother keeping the home. The family regularly attended the Baptist Church, and the Bible was often read in their home. Richard and Ronald were interested in biking, playing marbles and baseball. Summers were often spent outside from breakfast to supper. The family moved houses several times while Richard was growing up, primarily living in Illinois. Unfortunately, one of their homes caught fire and burned down, destroying their belongings and all their family pictures. Thankfully all family members were safe. Richard and his siblings all graduated from Alton Senior High in Alton, Illinois. Richard and Ronald had baseball dreams and even walked on to open try-outs for a chance to join the St. Louis Cardinals Baseball team. They were not successful. Both remained lifelong Cardinals fans.

Richard went to work and then began attending Iowa Wesleyan College. His time in college was interrupted, however. During this period in history, Selective Service was the law of the land. Richard knew when he received a low draft number in the mail from the US Government, that he was destined to be called up for military service. He chose to join the Air Force explaining, “If I was going to serve my country, I decided I would much rather fly than walk.” And so, he did. He enlisted in the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1950 at the Age of 21. He attended navigator training and was commissioned at Ellington Air Force Base, Houston Texas. He took further training in air bombardment at Biggs Air Force Base in El Paso, TX. He served 20 years, until 1970. During his tenure he flew a number of heavy planes, primarily B52 bombers for over 10 years, in the position of navigator on the flight crew. He received numerous awards for his work with his crew, and he became a navigator instructor for others. Richard served during both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. At the end of his career, he was no longer flying but was appointed Commander of Special Services for Dyess Air Force base, Abilene, Texas, a position he held until his retirement. Over the course of his tenure in the USAF, Richard rose through the ranks from 2nd Lieutenant to 1st Lieutenant, to Captain, Major and finally, Lt. Colonel.

Early in his career, while assigned to Temporary Duty in England, he met a young British woman, Carole Moss. She moved to the US, and they married in 1952. Two children were born into this marriage, a daughter, Lynda Ann, and then, a son, Jeffrey Richard.

Richard attended college as a working adult and father while stationed at Walker Air Force Base in New Mexico. He received his bachelor’s in psychology from Eastern New Mexico University in 1963. He was the first person in his family to graduate from college.

When the Air Force relocated the family to Dyess Air Force Base, Richard continued his education and attended Abilene Christian College (now University) where he obtained his master’s degree in psychology in 1973.

The family suffered a great loss when their son, Jeffrey, tragically passed away in Abilene in 1968 at the age of 10 years old. What followed was a very difficult and painful number of years for the family. They were grateful for the support of family and friends.

While his daughter was finishing high school and planning to attend college, Richard was preparing for retirement from the Air Force after 20 years of service. Once retired, he decided to pursue a PhD at the University of North Texas. Lynda went off to college at Texas Tech in Lubbock, TX, while the family moved to Denton, TX. Richard worked diligently toward a doctorate degree for a couple of years, completing all coursework except his dissertation. He ultimately decided to return to the workplace before finalizing his PhD degree. During this period of time, his first marriage dissolved.

Richard moved from Denton, TX to Tyler, TX to take a position with MHMR (now The Andrews Center) as psychologist – his second career. There he remained for a number of years until his second retirement at the age of 72.

While living in Tyler, Richard met Dr. Louise Bennett, a Unit Supervisor at The Andrews Center. They became friends and ultimately married. During their total of 43 years together, Louise and Richard enjoyed music, reading, art and travel. Their journeys took them all over Europe, the British Isles, and many places in the United States including Alaska and Hawaii. They both took up playing the dulcimer and attended lessons with others who were also learning this interesting instrument. They enjoyed square dancing. They spent time with friends and family, and they were pleased when grandchildren and then great-grandchildren came along. They raised several cats together and enjoyed the company of their pets. Their last cat, Flash, outlived them, and now resides in Tyler with a sweet widow who loves him dearly.

Richard is a man who sometimes appeared tough and gruff on the outside but could be a marshmallow on the inside. He served his country keeping us safe, flying sometimes dangerous missions while we were sleeping back in the 1950’s and 1960’s. After leaving the Air Force, he grew out his hair and added a beard, which shocked his family, but suited his second career in psychology. As his hair and beard turned white, he would amuse children by playing the part of Santa Claus around Christmas and even bought his own Santa suit. He had a silly sense of humor. Richard, was, and will always remain, a man who was young at heart. He will be missed.

Richard is survived by his loving daughter, Lynda Starnes (Bob Snoddy) of Plano, TX, brother, Ronald Wilson of Tulsa, OK (Jessie – deceased), step-son, Erick Sailor (Jackie) of Longview, TX; grandchildren Jeffrey Starnes (Heather) of Great Falls, MT, Stephanie Brown (Jeffrey) of Wylie, TX, Leigh-Ann Cambern of Celina, TX, Ryan Cambern of Prosper, TX, step-grandsons Matthew Sailor (Jackie) of Texarkana, TX, Bryan Sailor of Longview, TX; and great grandchildren Benjamin and Graeme Starnes, Charlotte and Caleb Brown, Harper and Hudson Cambern, step-great grandchildren Brooklyn and Ellias Sailor, along with a number of cherished nieces and nephews and their children.

The family would like to thank the staff, management and friends who enriched Richard’s life while he was a resident at Story Point Senior Living Center. In addition, we extend our appreciation for the compassionate and exceptional care he received through the staff of Star City Patient Care and Hospice.

Should you so desire, memorials can be made to Friday NITE Friends, a respite care program in Plano, TX for children with medical and special needs. Or please donate a book to your local library in Richard’s memory.

Services for Richard Lloyd Wilson:

10:00am, Friday, November 20, Custer Road United Methodist Church 6601 Custer Road Plano, TX 75023

Internment of ashes with Military honors:

2:00pm, Friday, November 20, Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway Dallas, TX 75211