Vernon Wilson

Mr. Wilson died Monday, Nov. 17, 2003, at his home.

He was born Jan. 30, 1920, in St. Joseph, Mo., the son of James and Cora (Lentz) Wilson. He moved to Wathena in 1930.

Mr. Wilson worked for Albert Deeken as a mechanic until he retired in 1978. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and received a Purple Heart in the European campaign. He was a member of McCarthy Baptist Church in St. Joseph and a lifetime member of Kansas Disabled American Veterans.

He married Ivah E. Roberts on Aug. 15, 1941, in St. Joseph. She died Oct. 18, 1990. An infant son and another son, Francis, also died earlier.

Survivors include three sons, Gene, Westminster, Colo., Leroy, St. Joseph, and Martin, Wathena; two daughters, Joyce Blackburn, Lawrence, and Wanda Wilson, Wathena; four brothers, Ralph, Cosby, Mo., James and Joe, both of St. Joseph, and Bob, Thornton, Colo.; five sisters, Fern Sharp, Wathena, Maxine Majewski, Springfield, Mo., Maggie Hicks and Virginia Rutter, both of St. Joseph, and Ruthie Jones, Overland Park; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Friends may call after noon today at the funeral home, where family will receive friends from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The family suggests memorials to Shriners Hospitals for Children, sent in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 426, Wathena 66090.