Ronald "Ron" Washburn Wilson

Ronald Washburn Wilson, 68, of Shelby, died Tuesday, July 14, 2015, at his home. He was born in Cleveland County to the late Herschel and Mary Leigh Wilson on Feb. 21, 1947. Ronald—Ron or Ronnie to his friends and loved ones—served in the U.S. Navy as a yeoman first class, carrying out two tours of duty in Vietnam and on assignment on the U.S.S. Princeton. While deployed on the Princeton, he was a communications liaison between officers and astronauts as Apollo 10 splashed down in the Pacific Ocean just east of American Samoa. A jack-of-all-trades, Ronald was a manager at Eagle Roller Mill, worked maintenance at Cleveland Community College, operated machinery at Celanese Corp.'s Shelby Fibers Operations, drove tractor-trailers, worked on his family's dairy farm, sold farm equipment, and even delivered flowers. He loved golf, both as a player and a fan. His other hobbies included woodworking and making clocks out of unusual items, such as golf club heads and car pistons. He was an active member of the Freemasons. He had a smile for everyone he encountered, meeting them with an outstretched hand and a quick introduction. He is survived by his wife, Linda Wilson; two sons, Bryan Wilson and wife Victoria Wilson of Charlotte, N.C., and Matthew Wilson and wife Marlene Thompson of Asheville, N.C.; grandchildren Elizabeth Wilson and Walter Wilson; sisters Tillie Duncan and husband Shannon Duncan of Indian Land, S.C., and Ann McSwain and husband Pete McSwian of Shelby; sisters-in-law Rita Robbins of Shelby and Diane Lovelace of Shelby; mother-in-law Marie Lovelace of Shelby, and nephews Eric Duncan and wife Pam Duncan of Ridgeway, S.C., Nathan Duncan and wife Carla Duncan of Clover, S.C., Luke Duncan and wife Sara Duncan of Bozeman, Mont., Britt McSwain and wife Stephanie McSwain of Shelby, and Guy Robbins of Shelby. Funeral services will be held Friday, July 17, 2015, at 3 p.m. at Double Springs Baptist Church, with visitation at 1:30 p.m. Burial will follow at Cleveland Memorial Park.