Samuel R. “Sam” Wilson

Published 10:43 pm Saturday, April 28, 2007

By Staff
Samuel Richard “Sam” Wilson, Lieutenant Colonel US Army Retired, age 87, a resident of 110 Patricia Road in the Runyon Hills community of Washington, NC died Friday April 27, 2007 at the Beaufort County Hospital.
A funeral will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, April 29, 2007 at the First Christian Church of Washington officiated by Dr. Michael Price. Burial will follow in Oakdale Cemetery. Bobby Rees, Phillip Dixon, Jeffrey Woolard, Doug Boyd, Curley Smith and William Lane Wilson will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the former Men’s Sunday School Class of the First Christian Church and members of the North Carolina National Guard.
Mr. Wilson was born in Washington, NC on November 9, 1919 son of the late Robert Edward Wilson and the late Stella Roberson Wilson and grew up in the Old Ford Community. He was a 1938 graduate of Washington High School. Mr. Wilson married the former Clara Paris on December 13, 1944 who preceded him in death on January 6, 1988. He served his country in the US Army Air Corps during World War II as a B25 Pilot with the 57th Bomb Wing, the 428th Bomb Squadron and the 310 Bombardment Group. During his service in the US Army Air Corps he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster and the Air Medal with six Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters. Mr. Wilson transferred to the North Carolina National Guard 295th Battalion where he served twenty-three years and retired as company commander with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on November 9, 1979. He also was employed with Pamlico Chemical Company of Belhaven where he retired in 1982 as manager. Mr. Wilson was a member of the First Christian Church where he was an usher and held numerous offices in the church. He was a member of the Washington VFW Post 6088, the Tau Tribe # 18 Improved Order of the Red Men, a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge 1800 where he was a former Governor, a member of Washington Yacht and Country Club where he taught junior golf and was active with Meals on Wheels where he helped in the Soup Kitchen when his health permitted. Mr. Wilson also volunteered to drive cancer patients to Greenville for their treatments. He loved golfing, hunting, walking and was a devoted husband and father.
Survivors include two sons: Richard Paris Wilson and his wife Nancy of New Bern and Gary D. Wilson and his wife Betty of Washington; Mr. Wilson’s special angel: Marion Moseley of Greenville, NC; a brother: James Edward Wilson of Richmond, VA and four grandchildren: Jason Richard Wilson, Elizabeth Wilson McAllister, Samuel Richard Wilson and Katy Rebecca Wilson. Mr. Wilson was preceded in death by two brothers: Lane Norwood Wilson and Paul Larry Wilson.
The family will receive friends from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM Saturday, April 28, 2007 at Paul Funeral Home of Washington and at other times at the home located at 110 Patricia Road, Washington, NC.
In lieu of flowers the family kindly asks that memorial contributions be made to First Christian Church Pre-School, 401 East 2nd Street, Washington, NC 27889 or the charity of ones choice.
The Wilson family would like to extend a special thank you to Mr. Sam’s special caregivers: Dot, Connie, Judy, Betty and Mary and loving appreciation to his nieces: Joyce Brooks and Sue Wilson.
Condolences may be directed to the Wilson family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.
Paul Funeral Home of Washington is serving the Wilson family.
Paid Obituary