William Dean Wilson Jr.

 

William Dean (Bill) Wilson Jr. passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 1st in Casper, Wyoming at the age of 73, following a long courageous battle with early-onset Alzheimer’s.  

He is survived by his children Brandy L. Popp (Jerome) of Glenrock Wyoming, Catherine M. Quincey (Samuel) of Chiefland Florida, William D. Wilson III of Dunnellon Florida; 7 grandchildren, Brittany, Seth, Georgia, Michael, TJ, Kylee, McKenzie; 2 great-grandchildren, Paige and Avery.  He is also survived by his 6 siblings, Sharon, Robert, Thomas, Patricia, James, and John and his stepmother Roberta Wilson.  Bill was preceded in death by his father William D. Wilson Sr. and his mother Laura Anderson.

Bill joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1968 and gave 12 years of his life to our nation, gallantly serving combat duty in Vietnam. Later service included Drill Instructor and Water Survival Instructor at Parris Island, and Recruiter for the Corps in Houston.  He was honorably discharged at the rank of Gunnery Sergeant.  A Marine in civilian clothing, Bill was a highly skilled control & instrumentation tech and electrician, working for Houston Lighting & Power, PCR, Chem Polymer, and Tec-Nor. He enjoyed leisure time with family at the pool or on a beach, scuba diving (he was a certified dive master), and fishing Lake Monticello with his brothers and son.

He married Pamela Bass in 1967; in 28 years together they raised 3 children in the ‘Wilson Corps.’ Bill did his best to instill the qualities of service and leadership in his children.  He later reconnected and spent 20 years with childhood sweetheart Wanda Lou (Cartwright) Hill.

A celebration of Bill’s life will be held Thursday, October 26, 2023, 11:00am at the VFW in St. Johns, Michigan.  Military service in his honor and interment will take place Friday, October 27, 2023, 1:30pm at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta, Michigan.