Obituary of Gordon Leonard Wilson

IN LOVING MEMORY OF GORDON L. WILSON Gordon Leonard Wilson, son of Earl and Mabel (McClellan) Wilson, was born September 29, 1927, in rural Oberlin, Kansas, and passed away at the Schowalter Villa in Hesston, Kansas, on January 10, 2013, at the age of 85. Gordon grew up on a farm northwest of Oberlin where his father was a veterinarian. He attended Mt. Pleasant grade school and graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1945. He was very involved in partnering with his father in running a Purina Feed store and building the Star Motel. Gordon served his country in the U.S. Army in Korea. Gordon followed his entrepreneurial father in establishing the Highway Barbershop and Camper Park that he operated for over 50 years. On August 17, 1950, Gordon married Louise Black in Oberlin at the Assembly of God Church where they were lifelong members. They made their home in Oberlin and raised three sons. After Louise passed away in 1992, Gordon later married Vivian Willard, and after her passing married Wilma Jean Bland. Gordon moved to Hesston in 2009, to be closer to family. Survivors include: two sons and their wives, Duane and Fayetta Wilson, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Evan and Phyllis Wilson, Wichita, Kansas; one brother and his wife, Floyd and Phoebe Wilson, Mesa, Arizona; seven grandchildren, Travis and wife, Suzanne Wilson, Austin, Texas; Mallory and husband, Jesus Chacon, Mt. Holly, North Carolina; Sarah Wilson, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; PFC Seth Wilson, Seoul, Korea; Aaron, Jennie, and Grace Wilson, Wichita; and six grandchildren. Gordon was preceded in death by his parents, his three wives, Louise, Vivian, and Jean; one son, Royce; one brother, Merle; two sisters, Bernice and Doris; and one granddaughter, Kaylynn Wilson. A memorial has been established to the Gordon Wilson Memorial Fund.