Perry Andrew Wilson

PERRY ANDREW WILSON, 85, of Memphis, died on Tuesday, March 4, 2014. His journey began in Minneapolis, Minnesota on November 14, 1928, born to Joseph Perry and Agnes Irene Carlson Wilson. After graduating in 1946 from Roosevelt High School, he served in the United State Army as a Paratrooper and a Band Leader during World War II. His love of music, which began in the third grade, led him to the New England Conservatory of Music graduating in 1950 with a Bachelor of Music Degree, Trumpet Performance. He and several other musicians then began traveling and playing all over the country. His “traveling” career ended when he played in Memphis and met the love of his life, Fran. After their marriage in 1952, he began a career teaching school and band for a span of 43 years. He taught in Coldwater, MS and in the Memphis City Schools before retiring in 1995. In addition to teaching school, he played professionally with several different bands, taught private music lessons, repaired instruments and tuned pianos. During the span of his career he also earned an additional degree in Education at Memphis State University, graduating in 1974, all the while raising six children. All these jobs allowed Fran to stay at home and raise their family. He also served as the Choir Director for St. Paul United Methodist Church (Midtown) for 25 years and at Aldersgate United Methodist Church for 31 years, retiring just this last May at the age of 84. He utilized his musical talents to write and arrange many pieces for both his bands and church choirs. Outside of music, he loved sail boating and successfully built several of his own sailboats. In his retirement years, he continued his love of playing his trumpet with several different bands, big and small. He is survived by his children, Chet Wilson (Gail) of Southaven, MS, Drew Wilson (Hazel) of Dauphin Island, AL, Perri Wilson Mathis (Barry) of Memphis, TN, Joey Wilson (Mark Cobb) of Memphis, TN and Renee Wilson Little (Glenn) of Germantown, TN. “Pampee” is also survived by his grandchildren, Brooke Wilson Anderson (Kris) of Winchester, MA, Michael Wade Wilson of Olive Branch, MS, Jonathan Wilson (Melissa) of emporia, KS, Courtney Mathis Bierbrodt (Wilson ) of Bartlett, TN, Alan Mathis of Memphis, TN, Christopher, Alyssa and Jackson Little of Germantown, TN, and his great-grand-children, Zoee Grace Wilson of Emporia, KS, Dominic and Lucas Anderson of Winchester, MA and Baby Bierbrodt to be born in September. He also leaves his sister, Virginia Wilson Tusler of Blairsville, GA. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 56 years in 2009, Fran Wilson, his son, Michael Wilson, his sister, Mary Wilson Ivarson and his brother, Charles Wilson. Visitation will be held Sunday, March 9 from 4-7 p.m. at Memphis Funeral Home, Poplar Chapel. Funeral will be Monday, March 10 at Aldersgate United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. Interment will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to the Aldersgate United Methodist Church Scholarship Fund. Online condolences may be expressed at

www.memphisfuneralhome.net

Memphis Funeral Home

And Memorial Gardens

5599 Poplar Ave.