Robert Wilson

Lt. Col. Robert "Bob" Henry Wilson Bonita Springs, FL

Lt. Col. Robert "Bob" Henry Wilson, 87, of Bonita Springs, FL, died peacefully at home on Wednesday, February 1, 2012, surrounded by his wife and children.

Lt. Col. Wilson is survived by his wife, Mary Erbland Wilson; his four children, Robert B. Wilson and wife, Danette, Thomas P. Wilson and wife, Tina, Susan Wilson Connolly and husband, Mike, and Laura Wilson Small and husband, Eric; and his sister-in-law, Grace Moore Wilson.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Jacquelyn Costigan Wilson; his younger sister, Patricia Wilson Morse Needel; and his younger brother, James Wilson.

He was a loving, devoted grandfather to his ten grandchildren, Jackie, Stephanie, Patrick, Sarah, Karen, Rob, Casie, Kristina, Christopher, and Kevin. He is also survived by eight stepchildren, Christopher, Catherine, John, Peter, Janet, Mary Elizabeth, Daniel, and Terry; several nieces and nephews, and many dear friends.

Born in Kalamazoo, MI on October 6, 1924 to M. W. and Irene Wilson, he graduated from Tecumseh (Michigan) High School in 1942 where he played football, basketball, and tennis; he was also in the glee and drama clubs. He attended Albion College for a year and then the U.S. Naval Academy, from which he graduated in June 1947. He was inducted into the U.S. Marine Corps, attended flight school, and became a pilot. He served two tours of duty in the Korean War; his plane was shot down while flying over enemy territory. He was a survivor of the brutal Chosin Reservoir march, one of only 6,000 servicemen to survive.

In January 1949 he married Jacquelyn "Jackie" Costigan, also of Tecumseh. In the Marine Corps, he rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He and his family were stationed in Cherry Point MC Air Station, NC (twice); El Toro, CA; Kaneohe, HI; Okinawa, Japan; Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA; and U.S. Navy Annex, Arlington, VA. In 1959, he also attained an M.B.A. from George Washington University.

After 22 years of service as a pilot, squadron commander, and comptroller, he left the Marine Corps in 1968. He then worked for IBM as a programmer/systems analyst for more than 15 years, retiring to care for Jackie, who died in November 1991 after a long illness.

On November 29, 1997, he married Mary Erbland (widow of his USNA 1947 classmate, Robert Erbland). They enjoyed 14 and one-half happy years together, living in Bonita Springs and Appleton, WI.

He enjoyed sports and was an avid bridge player. Lt. Col. Wilson was a member of St. Mary's Episcopal Church, the Spring Run Golf Club, and the U.S. Naval Academy alumni association.

Lt. Col. Wilson will be buried at Quantico National Cemetery, Quantico, VA with military honors.

The family requests that expressions of sympathy take the form of contributions to the USNA Alumni Association (U.S. Naval Academy Foundation, 291 Wood Road, Beach Hall, Annapolis, MD 21402, Attn.: Tribute Gifts) or to St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Bonita Springs.