Name: Mitchell Funeral Home at Raleigh Memorial Park
Address: Raleigh, NC

Among the fiends Steve and I shared, Steve and Bob Tallaksen were the clear thinkers.  I so miss Steve, but Bob is still hanging in there.

The good things we could say about Steve would fill many pages! We especially admired and appreciated the way he so generously gave of his time, talent, energy and hospitality to so many. For Steve, the causes that were important to others became his causes -- in our case, refugee resettlement, cultural exchange and historical preservation. As his father-in-law Bob Kruger put it so well in the letter he read at the April 19, 2022 'Celebration of Steve's Life', his was a "meaningful retirement". He was at his best in emergencies, bringing us hot water during an ice storm and saving us from a major household disaster when our upstairs toilet started leaking while we were out of town. It was a joy to be able to return the favor when he would occasionally need a hand on one of his many interesting projects. Steve was a wonderful friend and neighbor who will be greatly missed. Our heartfelt condolences to Vicki and all the family.

To my friend, Steve,
It’s been an honor and privilege to have known you. I say honor and privilege, because I really do mean it. The legacy that you left is beyond my comprehension. Your acts of valor, service, and duty will live on forever with me. Thanks for serving alongside the Hmong and for learning about us. I still have the book you gave me and the photos we took in Chapel Hill. I’ll never forget that. I wish I had seen you one last time to talk about my trip to Laos. I’m sure you would have loved to hear it. Rest easy, my friend. And fly high. 
With everlasting gratitude,  
Johnny Vang

The Raleigh Aero Masters remote control club loved having Steve as a relatively new member. He was always positive and enthusiastic. He dove into participation and helping work our club events. He would usually put his military and scouting skills to work by cooking over portable stove/burners (our flying field facility has no electricity). He made new friends and got them interested in joining the club. We particularly enjoyed his flying stories of either his small forward operating airplanes in Vietnam or his bomber pilot stories. We appreciated his military service. We will sorely miss Steve. The RAMs club has made a donation to the Inter-Faith Food organization in his name.

Somewhere around 2003 or 2004, this guy named Steve showed up at my house offering handyman services for the house that my family and I had recently moved into. Little did either of us know that this would be the start of a great friendship. Over the following 6-7 years, Steve worked on project after project at that house. He later told me that I had funded many of the incredible collection of tools in his shop. Over those years, I worked along side Steve on many of those projects. We were both engineering grads from NC State and were very like-minded on many things, including our love for attention to detail. Of all the projects, the most memorable is a finished space under the stairs hidden behind a moving bookcase. We worked together on that design for hours. It was an engineering marvel in our eyes! I learned a lot from Steve. About construction. About life. Steve was a kind man. Always willing to help others, or a good cause. He had a quick wit and was always ready with a great story from he and Vicki's many adventures over their 50+ years together. 

Steve was a good friend. Always willing to lend an ear or a hand and I will miss him. 

Vicki, Kevin and Brandon: My thoughts and prayers are with you and the family through this difficult time. 

Steve was always smiling and a very gracious host when we were in your home. We so enjoyed his company and hearing his stories of his time in the military. He will surely be missed by all who knew him. We wish to extend our condolences to the family at this time. 

Love Donna and Alan Thibault

I was blessed to meet Steve around one year ago when he joined RAMS, a local RC airplane club.  I became his flight instructor, and we became best friends.  Steve was a determined student, and we had a blast  together.  We taught each other all the time.

I was impressed with his photography skills.  He even came to my home and did a photo shoot with my five year old  grandson.  The results were amazing.

Steve became a fixture at our RC club.  He will be missed by many of us.

Steve's life was a mixture of adventure and calm.  During the Vietnam war, he flew a single engine reconnaissance plane across dicey territory.  Once his plane was shot with numerous bullets from below, leading to a forced landing.  Later in life, things calmed down as he used his skills on home carpentry (wonderful results on Morgan's Way), barbecuing,  Boy Scouts leadership, photography, and popular music streaming.  He was an active Democrat, early promoting Barack Obama and hosting campaign events.  He served as treasurer for a local City Council candidate.  With Vicki, both  gave unselfishly to promote progressive candidates.  Go, Steve!  We'll miss you.

I’ll never forget early 1972 when Steve was flying with the Ravens out of Vientiane Laos and we were all surprised and delighted when his wife of just a few months flew into Vientiane to stay with us in our quarters for a few days.
After spending all afternoon washing and drying her long blonde hair, she was less than thrilled when from a second floor came a large bucket of water dead on target leaving a drowned rat hairdo and one angry woman. I wasn’t sure if Steve was going to survive the incident.
Could have been classified as a combat fatality I suppose. 
Terry Murphy Raven 26

Steve was one of my buddies at Broughton High School in Raleigh, NC.  High school boys can be pretty antisocial, but not Steve.  He was always considerate, kind, and conscientious.  I lost contact with Steve when I dropped out of NC State and joined the Navy (aviation, anti-submarine warfare), but reconnected on Facebook several years ago.  I was not at all surprised to see that Steve continued to be a Mensch after high school.

Steve and I shared a year's full of memories as Air Force student pilots at Laredo AFB, Texas. Later, he joined me back at Laredo as T-37 instructor pilots. We lost contact when the base closed but rejoined at our class's 25th reunion. Our class has reunited every five years since. Steve was always there, only missing our 50th because of health concerns. Three years ago, as a favor to me, he flew at his own expense to Oklahoma City to present a talk to my military organization at Tinker AFB. It was a gesture of friendship I will always treasure. Sadly, I never got a chance to pay him back. He never asked for anything in return. The bond among veterans is not a glue made of politics or religion. It is a closeness forged by a common goal to succeed with skill and honor while accepting help and encouragement from each other. No better example of a good man is there than in the honorable Steve Wilson. When my own day comes and I can reunite with him again, I hope to greet him with these words. "Let's go fly."

Steve was a caring and kind person. He always greeted me  with a big smile. He and Vicki often invited us over to share Steve's delicious ribs and pork loin.
He made sure we left with a "care package." He loved music and always had it playing in the background.
I loved Steve as a son and I will certainly miss him.

Steve's positive energy was so infectious!  We worked together on Congresswoman Ross' service academy nomination board and you couldn't help being enthusiastic every time Steve joined a call!

He cared so much about ensuring the best students were selected for nominations that our process was recognized as the "best he'd ever seen" by the former Superintendent of the Air Force Academy.

I will miss, Steve!  My thoughts and prayers go out to Vicki and the rest of his family.

Steve has always been a good friend to us. Especially when my husband Tim was struggling. He was always there when we needed him. I can only hope they are reunited once again 💔

Rest easy Steve and may you fly with the angels

Vicki,

Susan and I send prayers and good thoughts at this difficult time. May the lifetime of jot that you and Steve share nurture you,

Love,

Bob and Susan Bailey

I shared with Steve a great days there, in the end of the land, in Chilean Patagonia. I met and very kind man. One of those person you would like to share more adventures. 
Rest in peace!!

I had the great honor of working alongside Steve to support Wake County students interested in military service. I am unable to put into words how much it meant to me to learn from him, observe his dedication to those around him, and hear some of his incredible stories. Steve is truly one of the best people I have ever met and I am incredibly grateful to have shared the time with him that I did. My deepest sympathies and prayers for comfort and peace go to his lovely wife Vicki and the rest of his family whom he always spoke so fondly of. 

Though we only met Stephen a couple of times, our last visit was just a few weeks ago when we got to enjoy dinner with him and Vicky. 
We know Stephen had many accomplishments, but being a big brother for Richard means the most to us.   


Vicki, Brandon and Kevin:   Please know my deepest sympathies, thoughts and prayers for comfort are with you during this time. Love and hugs to all. 
…….. Patricia A. Mickey

Steve very quickly became my best friend and flying buddy.  He loved flying and the camaraderie within the flying club.  He will be missed by many.

OBITUARY

Lt. Col. Steve Wilson, USAF, Ret.

March 31, 1947 – April 7, 2022

Mitchell Funeral Home at Raleigh Memorial Park

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