Dr. Earle L. Wilson

1934 - 2020

Dr. Earle L. Wilson

December 8, 1934 ~ November 24, 2020

GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT EMERITUS, THE WESLEYAN CHURCH, EARLE L. WILSON

Church leader, educator, pastor, author, and renowned preacher of the Gospel, Earle Lawrence Wilson was promoted to heaven on November 24, 2020. His homegoing was just days before his 86th birthday. Instead of a celebration on earth, he joined the eternal celebration of the Christ he proclaimed on earth.

A preacher by passion and not just profession, Dr. Wilson was known throughout the church world as a dynamic speaker and Bible expositor. The Wesleyan Church General Superintendent, Dr. Wayne Schmidt, said, "Dr. Wilson was part of more than a few pivotal and formative moments in my life and ministry. We join heaven in rejoicing over his faithful ministry."

Born December 8, 1934, in Rensselaer, New York, to devout parents, Lawrence W. and Wilhelmina (Knapp) Wilson, Dr. Wilson, his two brothers, and two sisters were raised in loyalty to the Kingdom of Christ and the local church. He and his brother, Dr. Norman Wilson, long-time speaker for "The Wesleyan Hour" radio ministry, have impacted the world with their oratory and Bible exposition. Recently celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary, Earle and his Bible college sweetheart, Sylvia Beck, were united in marriage on November 5, 1955. After Dr. Wilson's election as General Superintendent of The Wesleyan Church in 1984, Mrs. Wilson retired from a hospital administration career to accompany her husband on administrative and preaching travels across North America and in the nearly 100 countries of the denomination's world missions outreach.

Earle L. Wilson held a Master of Divinity degree from Evangelical Seminary, Myerstown, Pennsylvania, and a Master of Theology degree from Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey. Doctor of Divinity degrees were conferred on him by Houghton College, Houghton, New York, and Southern Wesleyan University, Central, South Carolina. He also received a Presidential Citation from Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, Indiana, in 2007.

Rev. Dr. Wilson pastored former Pilgrim Holiness Church congregations (now The Wesleyan Church) in Gloversville, New York, and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He also served as a Professor of New Testament Greek, Christian Theology, and Homiletics at Eastern Pilgrim College in Allentown, Pennsylvania (later United Wesleyan College). In 1971, he became the first president of United Wesleyan College and continued in that office until his election as General Superintendent in 1984. Upon his retirement in 2008, The Wesleyan Church named him General Superintendent Emeritus.

Dr. Wilson served on the boards and in leadership of various Evangelical and Holiness organizations, including his election as the first non-Methodist president of The World Methodist Council, and president of the Christian Holiness Association. He was the author of six books on Wesleyan beliefs and was a contributing author for the denomination's publications and The Preacher's Magazine. In addition to the offices he held, Dr. Wilson preached in camp meetings, ministerial conferences, holiness conventions, revival services in local churches, and commencements throughout The Wesleyan Church and in many other denominations.

He is survived by his wife, Sylvia Beck Wilson; brother, Norman (Nancy) Wilson; sister, Marilyn (Bob) Franke; daughter, Debarah Ann (Steven) Walter; son, Stephen Earle (Rebecca) Wilson; daughter, Colleen Ruth (Wayne) Derr; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by parents, Lawrence W. and Wilhelmina (Knapp) Wilson; sister, Augusta (Marvin) Wolfe; brother, Alvin (Marcia) Wilson; and grandson, Bennet Walter.

A private graveside service for Dr. Wilson will take place at Grant Memorial Park in Marion, Indiana.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Wesley Seminary and The Earle & Sylvia Wilson Endowed Scholarship Fund, 4201 S. Washington St., Marion, IN 46953, https://seminary.indwes.edu/donate.

Memories may be shared online at www.nswcares.com.