The Life of RAYMOND WAYNE WILSON
Raymond “Whitey” Wilson, 86, died at Hiawatha Care in Hiawatha, Iowa on Sunday, July 10, from complications of Alzheimer’s. He is survived by his three daughters Carolyn Gray (Rich), Marilyn Johnson and Judi Erickson (John); his five grandchildren, Eric Upchurch, Jason Upchurch, Corey Johnson, Brian Erickson and Amy Jones; five great grandchildren; and his brother, Glenn Wilson of Denver, Colorado.
Whitey was born in Runnells, Iowa on July 21st, 1924. He was married to Clover Evelyn Wilson until her death in 1968. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII and was wounded in France. At the end of the war, he completed his duty guarding the German prisoners, some of which became his lifelong friends.
Following the war, Whitey worked at Iowa Power and Light Company as Lead Electrician, retiring after 37 years. Following retirement he traveled around the world with an exchange group, Friendship Force. He stayed in homes in New Zealand, Australia, China, Germany, and Wales and in turn hosted his friends from these countries at his home in Des Moines.
The visitation will be at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon St., Des Moines on Friday, July 15th from 5-7 pm, and his Celebration of Life service will be the following day, Saturday July 16th at 10:00 am, also at Hamilton’s.