Ohlen Rudolph Wilson Sr.

Ohlen Rudolph Wilson, Sr., husband of Martha Myrle Salter Wilson, died Saturday, November 8, 2025, at Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital.

Born in Galax, VA, in 1927, he was a son of the late Walter Glenn Wilson and Eula Florence Melton Wilson. He graduated from Galax High School, Berea College, and the Medical College of Virginia. He served in the Navy in San Diego. He completed a general medicine internship at Medical College of Georgia.

Dr. Wilson moved to Alma, Georgia in 1955 to practice family medicine. Martha and Ohlen invested their lives in the people of Alma. From setting broken bones, to artfully suturing injuries, to having his children accompany him on house calls, to delivering many babies, he was an excellent diagnostician and was known as a man of integrity. They moved to Augusta in 1977, where he joined the Medical College of Georgia faculty in the Family Medicine department. He was instrumental in setting up rural satellite clinical sites for family practice residents. In 1988, they returned to Galax to be with his parents in their later years. While there, he continued practicing part-time and fulfilled his dream of opening a free medical clinic as a way to give back to his Appalachian hometown. Ohlen and Martha moved to Sumter in 2009. They flourished making friends in Sunday School, volunteering at Covenant Place, and teaching chemistry and life lessons to their home-schooled grandchildren.

He became a Christian at the age of 16 and was baptized in Chestnut Creek in Virginia. Belonging to his faithful Savior, Jesus Christ, Ohlen's goal was to show Christ's love through his actions and in serving others. He really cared for his patients and served the community with a gentle, generous spirit.

Dr. Wilson served as a deacon at Alma and Galax First Baptist Churches, and was a member of Alice Drive (Sumter, SC) and Smoke Rise (Stone Mountain, GA) Baptist Churches. He served on the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board in the 1970's with a focus on mission hospitals in the Middle East.

Surviving family members include two of six siblings, five children, thirteen grandchildren, and nineteen great-children. Included is his wife of 74 years; brother, Roger Wilson, and sister, Barbara McMasters; children, Sharon Wilson Dowdy (Larry-deceased), Martha Louise Wilson (Jim Wood), Ohlen Rudolph Wilson Jr. (Mary), Walter Bradley Wilson (Amy), Timothy Mark Wilson (Becky); grandchildren, David Dowdy, Erin Quirk (Matt), Matthew Wood (Stephanie Mitchell), Allison Wood (Peter Ahl), Kristen Wood (Bobby Smith), Katy Wilson-Fields (Lydia), Daniel Wilson (Jenna), Lauren Payne (Taylor), Luke Wilson (Taylor), Mark Wilson (Emma), Andrew Wilson (Kylie Fletcher), Rachel Potthoff (Robbie), James Wilson (Annaleigh); greatgrandchildren, Chessie Dowdy, Ethan Quirk, Owen Quirk, Brody Ahl, Bailey Ahl, Ellis Smith, Baby Girl Smith (due in January), Parker Wilson-Fields, Miles Wilson-Fields, Olivia Wilson, Foster Wilson, Rudi Rose Wilson, Wilson Payne, Jack Payne, Charlotte Payne, Laurel Wilson-Fletcher, Timothy Wilson III, and Baby Jane Wilson (due in December).

Memorial Services will be held Monday November 10, 2025, at 2 P.M. at Covenant Place Family Enrichment Center.

Private burial will be held at Greenhaven Preserve.

On-line condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com

Memorials may be sent to MAP International, 4700 Glynco Parkway, Brunswick, GA 31525.

Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386.