Donald E. Wilson

Donald E. Wilson, Father, Grand Father and Great-Grand Father, passed away on November 7th, 2016 at 12:04 AM. We are thankful that he was able to live such a long and fruitful life and will miss him dearly. Donald Eldon Wilson was born on April 24th, 1930 at Hurley Hospital in Flint Michigan. He was the son of Charles Clifford Wilson and Fern Eva Wilson. He was the Fourth of five brothers and is preceded in death by Charles (Chuck), Woodrow (Woody), Jack and younger brother Kenneth Wilson. Don’s Parents grew up and met in Illinois around 1916, then moved to Flint to work in the Auto plants, lived in Cleveland Ohio and moved back to Flint Michigan where they finally laid down their roots. Don’s father, Charles once help lay the original Brick track at the famed Indianapolis Raceway. In Flint, He worked at Fischer Body and was one of the original 13 men that wrote the By-Law that helped to end the 1936 Sit-Down Strike. Charles also served on the Bendle School’s Board of Education as Treasurer. Don’s brother, Chuck was a master craftsman and could build anything. His wooden boat that he made from scratch was destroyed in the 1953 Beecher/ Coldwater Road Tornado that was one of the strongest and deadliest F5’s in our country’s history. His brother “Woody” loved to dance and on Saturday nights would dress up and “cut the rug” at the old Russellville Ballroom. His Brother Jack, flew planes in World War Two. He spent most of his time chasing Nazi Germany’s General Rommel, The Desert Fox, across Northern Africa. In 1944, Jack flew out one of the last planes to evacuate from the base at Pompeii just before Mt. Vesuvius erupted for two weeks. The ash destroyed the air base and 88 planes. Towards the end of the war Jack hunted with other soldiers on Italian Dictator Benito Mussolini’s private hunting grounds and saw Mussolini as he was hung in the Square in Milan, Italy after his execution by Italian Communists. Don’s younger brother, Kenny was a great Flint area athlete and later became a high school coach and eventually Principal at Flint Southwestern High School. Like his brother Don, he loved playing golf and Michigan football. Don Wilson was also a great high school athlete. Playing Football, Basketball and Baseball at Bendle High School in Burton. Though undersized at 5’ 7’’ and 120 pounds “soaking wet”, he was known for his great hands on the playing fields. As a 13 year old boy, Don worked at the local Grocery Store on Saginaw Street and also worked as a pinsetter at the local bowling alley before they became automated. At 16, Don worked at the famous Vernors Soda Shop where he was a carhop and delivered food to cars while on roller skates. He would save half of his money and gave his Mother the other half so she could take the bus downtown and go shopping at Smith- Bridgeman’s department store. At 18, he started working at a General Motors factory Sweeping floors. Always the charmer, Don worked his way up through the ranks with limited education and hard work. He ended up working with Buick and General Motors Parts Division, now known as SPO. He retired in 1988 after 39 years of service. Over the years, Don saw the rise and fall of the Auto industry in Flint. At one time, only Detroit had more auto factories and Flint used to be a busy mini metropolis. How he met our mother, Sylvia. While playing in a Bendle H.S. football game against Grand Blanc, he was tackled on the sideline by the bench and looked up and saw one of the cheerleaders. He said “wow” I need to meet her! He later found out that she was only 15 and waited until the next year to start to start to court her. They married when he was 21 and she was 18 had our brother Jeff and started their life together. Our sister Sandi was born in 1954, sons; Scott and Jack in 1961 and 1963, respectively. Dad always had a good heart. He was tough, soft and fair at the same time. Our parents splurged on us kids at Christmas and that was always the highlight of the year as we shared family traditions. I’m sure my father took great pride in that, until the credit card bill came in January. Don was also a member of the First Baptist Church in Grand Blanc since 1963. Don was an avid golfer and was proud to be one of the founding members of Flint’s longest running golf league with GM where he played for almost 60 years. He was a member of Davison Country Club where he recorded his only Hole-In-One while playing with his son, Scott. Don was a master at the short game and as good a putter as you’ll ever see. Dropping putts from any distance and breaking any man that was unfortunate enough to wager with him.

Some of Don’s fondest memories was being able to travel to Europe and Hawaii with his wife, Sylvia. Playing golf up-north with “the guys” and playing golf at Pebble Beach Golf Links in California. Though, he was noted in saying that the birth of his kids and being married to our Mom was his favorite moments. He also said that his wife, Sylvia had the greatest influence over him, more than anyone else. Don’s only regret was that he didn’t go to college and acknowledged that it really would have furthered his career. He later said that he wished he never smoke and drank. His advice to everyone is to be yourself, never quit, respect your elders, and be happy with whatever you choose to do. Dad would tell us, “Don’t be a day late and a dollar short”. The Wilson way of saying plan ahead and don’t procrastinate! There are other sayings that he had but they’re not fit to print. To us children, Donald E. Wilson was like James Dean, Coach Bo Schembeckler, John Wayne, and Archie Bunker all rolled into one. He was sometimes cranky but, cool as hell! The grand children would sometimes call him Grumpa. He is the last of the Great Wilson Brothers that used to take Flint by storm. I had other questions for him but that will have to wait for another day. Our father was a great story teller and we will miss his voice and the twinkle in his eye. Love always and thanks for being our Dad! In lieu of flowers, donations in the name of Donald E. Wilson can be sent to The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.