RANDY WILSON

RANDY WILSON DODGE CITY - After a long battle with his health, Randy James Wilson passed away peacefully on October 27, 2025, in the presence of his loving family. He was born to John "Jake" Wilson and Irene Hill in Ulysses, Kansas on June 4, 1953. He was the third of four children born to the couple before they divorced. His mother, Irene, later married his cherished step-dad James "Jim" Hill. Randy spent part of his childhood in Dodge City, Kansas and moved to Amarillo, Texas where he went to Caprock High School, graduating in 1971. It wasn't long after that he attended a softball game and saw the girl that stole his heart. He knew he loved her from the moment he laid eyes on her and he never forgot that day, recalling it with sharp detail, even many decades later. On August 11, 1972, he married Sonya Diane Welch in his mother's living room in Amarillo, Texas. In 1974, while the Vietnam war raged, Randy took the brave step of enlisting in the United States Army. He was stationed in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, when the couple welcomed their first son, Jeremy Shawn Wilson, in 1975. By 1977, Randy was out of the Army and the family had settled in Dodge City, welcoming son, Justin Blake Wilson in 1978. For many years, Randy and his brother, John, ran Carlson's Paint and Wallpaper. Once the store closed, Randy went on to serve troubled youth - a mission that was deeply close to his heart - as a Cottage Supervisor at Hufford House, United Methodist Youthville. He had an immense love for the kids that he worked with and touched their lives for the better. His ornery sense of humor hid a heart of gold, filled with compassion for others. Following his time at Youthville, Randy worked as the Director of Surveillance at Boot Hill Casino in Dodge City. It was during his employment at the casino that his health troubles began and he was forced into an early retirement. If you knew Randy, you knew how much he hated having to give something up that wasn't his idea. Be that as it may, he enjoyed the time that retirement afforded him to be able to spend with his sons, wife, daughter-in-law, Sara, and grandsons, Dane and Alex, whom he helped raise. He was a very involved and loving Papaw who always spoke of his grandsons with pride. They, in turn, said he was their hero. Randy's family was everything to him and he also loved his friends. His interest in motorcycles and hotrods led him to becoming one of the founding members of the Dodge City chapter of the Law Dogs. He rode his Harley Davidson all over the United States with his friends, making memories and seeing all the things he'd always wanted to see with the wind in his face and freedom in his heart. He went by many names - "Red," "Curley," "Ran," "Grandpa," "Uncle Weenie," "Papaw," "Dad" - and each nickname had a special relationship attached to it. Welcoming Randy into Heaven are his parents, his son, Jeremy, and many other friends and relatives. Left to carry on his legacy are his loving and devoted wife, Diane, his son and daughter-in-law, Justin and Sara, his grandsons, Dane and Alex. He also leaves his fur babies, Ari, Rudy, and Izzy. A home service was held for Randy in Dodge City on October 27. Cremation has taken place. Ashes will be spread at a celebration of Life to be held at Palo Duro Canyon, Texas, at a later date.