Larry Gene Wilson Sr.

Larry was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Shelby; his parents; his brother, Dale; and his sister, Nancy. He is survived by his brother, Mark Wilson (Jane); his three sons, Larry Jr., Gregg (Susan), and Glenn (Gail); his three grandchildren, Daniel (Sarah) Wilson, Lindsey (Cole) Radenbaugh, and Sean Wilson; and his three great‑grandchildren, Peter and Joseph Wilson and Ruby Radenbaugh.

Born on June 3, 1935, in Somerset, Pennsylvania, Larry was the son of William and Grace Wilson. He married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Shelby Wilson. They raised three sons and were married for 65 years.

At a young age, Larry was drawn to building model gliders and planes. His passion for aircraft and flying remained a defining thread throughout his life. Larry enlisted in the Air Force and began Officer Candidate School in 1955. Early in his career, he served as a navigator in B‑47 and B‑52 bomber aircraft. In 1962, he was accepted into pilot training and went on to fly the F‑4 Phantom fighter jet for the remainder of his military career until 1975. Larry flew 211 combat missions during the Vietnam War and received the Distinguished Flying Cross as well as seven Air Medals.

After retiring from the military, Larry earned a degree in Computer Information Systems from Arizona State University and began a second career at Honeywell, where he worked for 17 years. During his time there, he contributed to the development of an onboard navigation software database that was eventually used on every corporate jet. He also continued to share his passion for aviation as a commercial flight instructor.

Larry devoted time to volunteering at Willowbrook Methodist Church in Sun City, Arizona, where he could often be found tending the gardens or helping with the annual rummage sale—especially in the electronics department. Known for his steady wisdom, dry humor, and unwavering dedication to his family, he was the person friends and loved ones turned to for honest advice and a dependable helping hand.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, February 5, at 10:00 a.m. at Willowbrook Methodist Church, with a reception to follow. Interment with military honors will take place at 2:30 p.m. at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Gary Sinise Foundation in Larry’s memory.

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