Benjamin C. Wilson

Benjamin Wilson, a man of devout faith and ardent patriotism, died on June 30th; he was 75. A native of Traverse City, Ben graduated from High School in 1962 and enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served with the Corps of Engineers for 3 years. He used his military training to his advantage when he acquired work as a heavy equipment mechanic. Ben married his first wife in 1971 and had two daughters who describe him as a gentle, guiding father who took great pride in his family.

Ben remarried in 2000 to Pastor Margaret “Meg” Wilson and, together, they fostered several children and adopted others. For many children, Ben would be the only father figure they would know. He was a man with the “patience of Job”, who gave of his time to help his neighbors and strangers alike and once gave his last dollar to a man in need. He never raised his voice, was a good listener and had Christian values that impressed even the pastor of a church whom he called his wife.

Ben will be missed by his wife, Meg Wilson; children, Virginia (Tim) Wilson, Wini (Eric) Bell, Richard, Marty (Jessica) and Amy Cobb, Paul Peterson, Amber (Travis) Dobson, Christine Peterson; grandchildren, Bailey and Leah Bell, Jakob Cobb, Sydney Foster, Zachary Breckenridge, Timothy and Colton Cobb, Aidan and Kairi Dulyea, Xavier and Aliyah Dobson, Edgar and Dallas Peterson; brothers and sisters, Beverly Causey, Carol Newell, Gary (Christine) Wilson, Linda Bugai, Wendy Warren, Kay (Greg) Lyon, Barb (Rob) Trevena and Deb (Dave) Sexton. Ben was preceded in death by his parents, George B. Wilson and Rose (Ockert) Wilson; brothers-in-law, Dave Bugai, Kip Newell and Gary Warren and nephews, Corey Wilson and Austin Oslin.

Friends will be received for visitation at Traverse Bay United Methodist Church on Friday, July 5th beginning at 10:30 followed by a Funeral Service at 11:00. A burial of cremated remains with Military Honors will be on Wednesday, July 10th at 11:00 at Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens.