When Vernon Charles 'Vern' Wilson was born on 16 Mar 1921, in Dexter, Stoddard County, Missouri, if you went down one road, it was called the Dexter Mail Service, and if you went down the other road, it was considered Essex. Sometimes the family said one, and sometimes the other. Vern lived longer than any of his siblings, being the first-born of 6 children from parents John Tillman Wilson III 1897–1960 and Lillie Melinda Snider 1898–1938. His father had a prior marriage with Mary Elsie Brown 1897–1967, and their son Delmar, was the oldest of 7:
• Delmar Eugene 'Curly' Wilson SSgt 1916–1972
• Vernon Charles 'Vern' Wilson PFC 1921–2023
• Amna Louise Wilson Wolfe S1C 1922–2022
• Dorothy 'Skip' Wilson Cook 1925–2014
• Calvin (—) Wilson S1C 1927–1959
• Norman (—) Wilson Sr. — SSgt 1932–2009
• Marion Joyce Wilson Whitaker 1936–2020
In 1929, the family moved to Flint, Michigan, where Vern graduated from Beecher High School, Class of 1938. On 22 Nov 1939, he married his high school sweetheart, Iloree Mae Clukie, in Waterloo, Fayette County, Indiana. They were blessed with 2 children during their 77 years of marriage. His bride, Iloree, preceded him in death on 22 Jun 2017.
In Aug 1943, Vernon was inducted into the U.S. Army, and he served for 2½ years as a World War II Paratrooper with the 13th Airborne Division in the European Theatre of Operation until the end of WWII. When he was honorably discharged on 1 Feb 1946, at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, he served with Company H, 515th Parachute Infantry and attained the rank of Private First Class (PFC). With Vern and 4 other siblings serving in the military, the other two sisters worked as civilians for the military! Vernon was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene of Flint, serving many years as an official board member. Following his military service, he was employed by Central Transport where he was repeatedly honored for meritorious achievement as a driver. Vern was employed as an 18-wheeler truck driver for 38 years with Bancroft Trucking Company, netting 2 million accident-free highway miles! He also worked for Universal Engineering of Frankenmuth, Michigan. Together Vern and Iloree lived in the Flint area for over 50 years, moving to Sandusky, Michigan, in 1991 but moving back to Flint later in life.
Surviving are daughter, Janet and husband Richard Bradford of Loudon, Tennessee; son, Lanny and wife Teri of Davison, Michigan; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. He was also preceded in death by his parents, grandson Stephen Wilson; brothers—Calvin, Delmar and Norman; and sisters—Joyce Whitaker, Dorothy Cook and Amna Wolfe.
A graveside service will be held with military honors under the auspices of the United States Army, with Pastor Jon Gildner officiating, at 2:00 PM on Thursday, 31 Aug 2023, at Great Lakes National Cemetery, 4200 Belford Road, in Holly, Michigan. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.swartzfuneralhomeinc.com.
The most important thing about the life of Vernon Charles 'Vern' Wilson, as well as his bride, Iloree, was that they were both faithful believers in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Vern was blessed with 102 years on this earth, and now he is rejoicing for all Eternity, giving glory to God our Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit.
• Delmar Eugene 'Curly' Wilson SSgt 1916–1972
• Vernon Charles 'Vern' Wilson PFC 1921–2023
• Amna Louise Wilson Wolfe S1C 1922–2022
• Dorothy 'Skip' Wilson Cook 1925–2014
• Calvin (—) Wilson S1C 1927–1959
• Norman (—) Wilson Sr. — SSgt 1932–2009
• Marion Joyce Wilson Whitaker 1936–2020
In 1929, the family moved to Flint, Michigan, where Vern graduated from Beecher High School, Class of 1938. On 22 Nov 1939, he married his high school sweetheart, Iloree Mae Clukie, in Waterloo, Fayette County, Indiana. They were blessed with 2 children during their 77 years of marriage. His bride, Iloree, preceded him in death on 22 Jun 2017.
In Aug 1943, Vernon was inducted into the U.S. Army, and he served for 2½ years as a World War II Paratrooper with the 13th Airborne Division in the European Theatre of Operation until the end of WWII. When he was honorably discharged on 1 Feb 1946, at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, he served with Company H, 515th Parachute Infantry and attained the rank of Private First Class (PFC). With Vern and 4 other siblings serving in the military, the other two sisters worked as civilians for the military! Vernon was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene of Flint, serving many years as an official board member. Following his military service, he was employed by Central Transport where he was repeatedly honored for meritorious achievement as a driver. Vern was employed as an 18-wheeler truck driver for 38 years with Bancroft Trucking Company, netting 2 million accident-free highway miles! He also worked for Universal Engineering of Frankenmuth, Michigan. Together Vern and Iloree lived in the Flint area for over 50 years, moving to Sandusky, Michigan, in 1991 but moving back to Flint later in life.
Surviving are daughter, Janet and husband Richard Bradford of Loudon, Tennessee; son, Lanny and wife Teri of Davison, Michigan; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. He was also preceded in death by his parents, grandson Stephen Wilson; brothers—Calvin, Delmar and Norman; and sisters—Joyce Whitaker, Dorothy Cook and Amna Wolfe.
A graveside service will be held with military honors under the auspices of the United States Army, with Pastor Jon Gildner officiating, at 2:00 PM on Thursday, 31 Aug 2023, at Great Lakes National Cemetery, 4200 Belford Road, in Holly, Michigan. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.swartzfuneralhomeinc.com.
The most important thing about the life of Vernon Charles 'Vern' Wilson, as well as his bride, Iloree, was that they were both faithful believers in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Vern was blessed with 102 years on this earth, and now he is rejoicing for all Eternity, giving glory to God our Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit.
When Vernon Charles 'Vern' Wilson was born on 16 Mar 1921, in Dexter, Stoddard County, Missouri, if you went down one road, it was called the Dexter Mail Service, and if you went down the other road, it was considered Essex. Sometimes the family said one, and sometimes the other. Vern lived longer than any of his siblings, being the first-born of 6 children from parents John Tillman Wilson III 1897–1960 and Lillie Melinda Snider 1898–1938. His father had a prior marriage with Mary Elsie Brown 1897–1967, and their son Delmar, was the oldest of 7:
• Delmar Eugene 'Curly' Wilson SSgt 1916–1972
• Vernon Charles 'Vern' Wilson PFC 1921–2023
• Amna Louise Wilson Wolfe S1C 1922–2022
• Dorothy 'Skip' Wilson Cook 1925–2014
• Calvin (—) Wilson S1C 1927–1959
• Norman (—) Wilson Sr. — SSgt 1932–2009
• Marion Joyce Wilson Whitaker 1936–2020
In 1929, the family moved to Flint, Michigan, where Vern graduated from Beecher High School, Class of 1938. On 22 Nov 1939, he married his high school sweetheart, Iloree Mae Clukie, in Waterloo, Fayette County, Indiana. They were blessed with 2 children during their 77 years of marriage. His bride, Iloree, preceded him in death on 22 Jun 2017.
In Aug 1943, Vernon was inducted into the U.S. Army, and he served for 2½ years as a World War II Paratrooper with the 13th Airborne Division in the European Theatre of Operation until the end of WWII. When he was honorably discharged on 1 Feb 1946, at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, he served with Company H, 515th Parachute Infantry and attained the rank of Private First Class (PFC). With Vern and 4 other siblings serving in the military, the other two sisters worked as civilians for the military! Vernon was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene of Flint, serving many years as an official board member. Following his military service, he was employed by Central Transport where he was repeatedly honored for meritorious achievement as a driver. Vern was employed as an 18-wheeler truck driver for 38 years with Bancroft Trucking Company, netting 2 million accident-free highway miles! He also worked for Universal Engineering of Frankenmuth, Michigan. Together Vern and Iloree lived in the Flint area for over 50 years, moving to Sandusky, Michigan, in 1991 but moving back to Flint later in life.
Surviving are daughter, Janet and husband Richard Bradford of Loudon, Tennessee; son, Lanny and wife Teri of Davison, Michigan; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. He was also preceded in death by his parents, grandson Stephen Wilson; brothers—Calvin, Delmar and Norman; and sisters—Joyce Whitaker, Dorothy Cook and Amna Wolfe.
A graveside service will be held with military honors under the auspices of the United States Army, with Pastor Jon Gildner officiating, at 2:00 PM on Thursday, 31 Aug 2023, at Great Lakes National Cemetery, 4200 Belford Road, in Holly, Michigan. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.swartzfuneralhomeinc.com.
The most important thing about the life of Vernon Charles 'Vern' Wilson, as well as his bride, Iloree, was that they were both faithful believers in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Vern was blessed with 102 years on this earth, and now he is rejoicing for all Eternity, giving glory to God our Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit.
• Delmar Eugene 'Curly' Wilson SSgt 1916–1972
• Vernon Charles 'Vern' Wilson PFC 1921–2023
• Amna Louise Wilson Wolfe S1C 1922–2022
• Dorothy 'Skip' Wilson Cook 1925–2014
• Calvin (—) Wilson S1C 1927–1959
• Norman (—) Wilson Sr. — SSgt 1932–2009
• Marion Joyce Wilson Whitaker 1936–2020
In 1929, the family moved to Flint, Michigan, where Vern graduated from Beecher High School, Class of 1938. On 22 Nov 1939, he married his high school sweetheart, Iloree Mae Clukie, in Waterloo, Fayette County, Indiana. They were blessed with 2 children during their 77 years of marriage. His bride, Iloree, preceded him in death on 22 Jun 2017.
In Aug 1943, Vernon was inducted into the U.S. Army, and he served for 2½ years as a World War II Paratrooper with the 13th Airborne Division in the European Theatre of Operation until the end of WWII. When he was honorably discharged on 1 Feb 1946, at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, he served with Company H, 515th Parachute Infantry and attained the rank of Private First Class (PFC). With Vern and 4 other siblings serving in the military, the other two sisters worked as civilians for the military! Vernon was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene of Flint, serving many years as an official board member. Following his military service, he was employed by Central Transport where he was repeatedly honored for meritorious achievement as a driver. Vern was employed as an 18-wheeler truck driver for 38 years with Bancroft Trucking Company, netting 2 million accident-free highway miles! He also worked for Universal Engineering of Frankenmuth, Michigan. Together Vern and Iloree lived in the Flint area for over 50 years, moving to Sandusky, Michigan, in 1991 but moving back to Flint later in life.
Surviving are daughter, Janet and husband Richard Bradford of Loudon, Tennessee; son, Lanny and wife Teri of Davison, Michigan; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. He was also preceded in death by his parents, grandson Stephen Wilson; brothers—Calvin, Delmar and Norman; and sisters—Joyce Whitaker, Dorothy Cook and Amna Wolfe.
A graveside service will be held with military honors under the auspices of the United States Army, with Pastor Jon Gildner officiating, at 2:00 PM on Thursday, 31 Aug 2023, at Great Lakes National Cemetery, 4200 Belford Road, in Holly, Michigan. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.swartzfuneralhomeinc.com.
The most important thing about the life of Vernon Charles 'Vern' Wilson, as well as his bride, Iloree, was that they were both faithful believers in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Vern was blessed with 102 years on this earth, and now he is rejoicing for all Eternity, giving glory to God our Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit.
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