Retired Master Sgt. A.R. Wilson, 83, of Lawton, OK, died Tuesday, February 17, 2015, in Lawton.
A.R. was born March 5, 1931, in Sinks Grove, WV, to Clell and Bessie Wilson.
He grew up in West Virginia and went to work at a dairy as a boy following the death of his father to help support the family. He married Maria Hennrietta Medina on December 28, 1954, in Houston, TX.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 17 and was a veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam wars. He retired at Fort Sill, OK, after 24 years of service. Following his retirement, he worked for ARA Equipment Rentals, the city of Lawton, and later operated his own trucking business until his second retirement.
He was active in Lawton veteran groups, as well as in the Lawton community. He enjoyed ‘policing’ Liberty Lake Park and feeding the ducks. He was a true patriot who loved his country.
His son, Robert L. Wilson, preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife of the home; two children, Frank Wilson and Rita Wilson Hess, both of Lawton; nine grandchildren, Robert L. Wilson Jr., Anthony R. Wilson, Jared S. Turner, Joshua K. Whitehead, Bobby R. Wilson, Alana Whitehead, Judson Whitehead, Ava Hess, and Amanda Goodson; 13 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; brothers and sisters and their spouses, James and Judy Wilson of Independence, VA, Wallace Wilson, Howard Wilson, Thelma and Alfris Dunbar, and Shirley Bland, all of Ronceverte, WV, Forrest “F.A.” Wilson of Princeton, WV, Jo Anne and Roger Bostic of White Sulphur Springs, WV, Virginia and Kenneth Dunbar of Indianapolis, IN, and Carol June and Bobby Hager of Lewisburg, WV; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Funeral services will be conducted at 12:30 PM on Friday, February 27, 2015, at the Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Chapel in Lawton with Pastor Greg Baxter officiating. Burial with full military honors will be held at the Fort Sill National Cemetery in Elgin, OK.
The family will greet friends from 6-8 PM on Thursday, February 26, at the funeral home.
An online guestbook and sympathy cards are available at www.beckerfuneral.com.
Becker-Rabon Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Information submitted by Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Lewisburg.
Obituary originally published in the February 23, 2015 edition of the West Virginia Daily News.
