Submitted by Patricia Keenan, July 30, 2009
Robert Gerard “Willie” Wilson – Died 27 June 2009 – Leon county today
Memorial funeral services for Robert Gerard “Willie” Wilson, age 64, of Leona, Texas were held at 4 PM, Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at the Walters Funeral Home Chapel in Centerville. Mrs. Carol Walters officiated.
Robert G. Wilson was born December 30, 1944 in Brooklyn, New York to John and Jane (McCarthy) Wilson. He graduated from Deer Park High School in Deer Park, New York in 1962. He served his country in the Navy for 20 years, from 1962 until 1981. He fought in the Viet Nam War as a Navy Seal and was a prisoner of war for five years. His own military service and the Military as a whole was of the utmost importance to him all of his life. He was very active in the V.F.W. and, for a time, served as Commander of the Centerville Post.
Mr. Wilson loved John Wayne movies, playing poker and telling about his experiences in the service. He was a Baptist. He moved to Leon County, Texas in 1990 and worked at a variety of jobs. He was proud off the fact that he was Irish. His favorite sports team was the Washington Redskins which made him stand out in a land of Dallas Cowboy fans. Mr. Wilson was preceded in death by his parents and by his wife, Jean, who died January 9, 2006. His health had been declining for several years and he died at his home on June 27, 2009.
Surviving family includes his three daughters and their husbands, Jennifer and Scott Koerth of Hallettsville, Texas, Amanda and Kenneth Newhouse of Connersville, Indiana and Patricia Wilson and Joe Zepeda of Rosenberg, Texas; step-sons, Michael Robertson and wife, Melissa, of Leona and Jonathan Gunnels and wife, Martha, of San Antonio, Texas and four grandchildren, Joshua, Alexis, Simon and Elizabeth.