BUNYAN WILSON
1921 - 2012
Bunyan S. Wilson Jr. died peacefully with his family present on June 23, 2012.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Judge and state representative Bunyan S. Wilson Sr. and Mary Valenti Wilson and his beloved sister, Mary Powers Wilson Dyke.
He graduated from Ashland Senior High School in 1939. He was the last surviving member of the Ashland Tomcat football team that played the first game in the newly built Putnam stadium. He joked he was "148 pounds of shimmering beauty." He was president of the first graduating class of Ashland Junior college. He entered Ohio Wesleyan University and after the attack on Pearl Harbor he volunteered his service to the U.S. Marine Corps but was allowed to graduate before entering officers training at Parris Island. He served in the pacific theater as Quarter Master Officer for troop transfer. He fought at Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Pelleliu, Tarawa and Guam, among others. He received many medals, among those the Bronze Star for service above and beyond the call of duty in Iwo Jima and Okinawa. "Once a Marine always a Marine."
Following his military service, Capt. Wilson graduated from the University of Kentucky Law School and returned to Ashland to begin his law practice on October 20, 1948, and continued for 61 years. His first firm was Caldwell Robinson and then he joined Deiderich, Hermansdorfer and Wilson. In 1969, he and James Stavros established their practice that lasted 43 years. He was the longest practicing attorney in Ashland. He was an officer of the Jr. Chamber of Commerce, a scout master, a member of the Lions Club, BPOE 350, Toastmasters Club, Boyd County Council on Aging, Boyd Co. Bar Association and the Kentucky Bar Association. He served on the board of directors of Ashland Senior Citizen Center and was a member of the advisory board for the Ashland Jr. College/ACC. He was elected twice as chairman of the Board of Education of the Ashland Independent School system. He also served on the board of Federated Charities. He was a lifetime member of First Christian Church and served as a deacon and an elder. He was known to all as a man of high character, honesty and integrity. He was highly respected by his legal colleagues and friends as a man of his word. Most of all he cherished his family and beloved town of Ashland. He enjoyed fishing with his girls and hunting with his buddies. He treated everyone he met with kindness and respect. His big grin and sense of humor was always present. He was truly one of a kind.
He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Meade Wilson; daughters, Melissa Wilson (Rick Ford), Marcia Wilson Hermann (James), Susan Wilson (Joe Sexton) and Laura Donaldson; nine grandchildren, Noah and Madison Ford, Erin, Laura and Kyle Hermann, Wilson and Emma Sexton and Reece Johnson and AnnaLee Donaldson.
Visitation will be at First Christian Church on Winchester Avenue from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 27, 2012, with services immediately following. Burial will be in Ashland Cemetery in Ashland.
In lieu of flowers, friends may make a contribution in his memory to First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, 1930 Winchester Avenue, Ashland, KY, The Putnam Stadium Restoration Fund, c/o Donna Suttle, 1520 Lexington Avenue, Ashland, KY or the YMCA, 3232 13th Street, Ashland, KY.
We Love you more than tongue can tell and will miss you forever, Pop Pop.
Steen Funeral Home-Central Avenue Chapel in Ashland is in charge of arrangements.
1921 - 2012
Bunyan S. Wilson Jr. died peacefully with his family present on June 23, 2012.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Judge and state representative Bunyan S. Wilson Sr. and Mary Valenti Wilson and his beloved sister, Mary Powers Wilson Dyke.
He graduated from Ashland Senior High School in 1939. He was the last surviving member of the Ashland Tomcat football team that played the first game in the newly built Putnam stadium. He joked he was "148 pounds of shimmering beauty." He was president of the first graduating class of Ashland Junior college. He entered Ohio Wesleyan University and after the attack on Pearl Harbor he volunteered his service to the U.S. Marine Corps but was allowed to graduate before entering officers training at Parris Island. He served in the pacific theater as Quarter Master Officer for troop transfer. He fought at Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Pelleliu, Tarawa and Guam, among others. He received many medals, among those the Bronze Star for service above and beyond the call of duty in Iwo Jima and Okinawa. "Once a Marine always a Marine."
Following his military service, Capt. Wilson graduated from the University of Kentucky Law School and returned to Ashland to begin his law practice on October 20, 1948, and continued for 61 years. His first firm was Caldwell Robinson and then he joined Deiderich, Hermansdorfer and Wilson. In 1969, he and James Stavros established their practice that lasted 43 years. He was the longest practicing attorney in Ashland. He was an officer of the Jr. Chamber of Commerce, a scout master, a member of the Lions Club, BPOE 350, Toastmasters Club, Boyd County Council on Aging, Boyd Co. Bar Association and the Kentucky Bar Association. He served on the board of directors of Ashland Senior Citizen Center and was a member of the advisory board for the Ashland Jr. College/ACC. He was elected twice as chairman of the Board of Education of the Ashland Independent School system. He also served on the board of Federated Charities. He was a lifetime member of First Christian Church and served as a deacon and an elder. He was known to all as a man of high character, honesty and integrity. He was highly respected by his legal colleagues and friends as a man of his word. Most of all he cherished his family and beloved town of Ashland. He enjoyed fishing with his girls and hunting with his buddies. He treated everyone he met with kindness and respect. His big grin and sense of humor was always present. He was truly one of a kind.
He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Meade Wilson; daughters, Melissa Wilson (Rick Ford), Marcia Wilson Hermann (James), Susan Wilson (Joe Sexton) and Laura Donaldson; nine grandchildren, Noah and Madison Ford, Erin, Laura and Kyle Hermann, Wilson and Emma Sexton and Reece Johnson and AnnaLee Donaldson.
Visitation will be at First Christian Church on Winchester Avenue from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 27, 2012, with services immediately following. Burial will be in Ashland Cemetery in Ashland.
In lieu of flowers, friends may make a contribution in his memory to First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, 1930 Winchester Avenue, Ashland, KY, The Putnam Stadium Restoration Fund, c/o Donna Suttle, 1520 Lexington Avenue, Ashland, KY or the YMCA, 3232 13th Street, Ashland, KY.
We Love you more than tongue can tell and will miss you forever, Pop Pop.
Steen Funeral Home-Central Avenue Chapel in Ashland is in charge of arrangements.
BUNYAN WILSON
1921 - 2012
Bunyan S. Wilson Jr. died peacefully with his family present on June 23, 2012.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Judge and state representative Bunyan S. Wilson Sr. and Mary Valenti Wilson and his beloved sister, Mary Powers Wilson Dyke.
He graduated from Ashland Senior High School in 1939. He was the last surviving member of the Ashland Tomcat football team that played the first game in the newly built Putnam stadium. He joked he was "148 pounds of shimmering beauty." He was president of the first graduating class of Ashland Junior college. He entered Ohio Wesleyan University and after the attack on Pearl Harbor he volunteered his service to the U.S. Marine Corps but was allowed to graduate before entering officers training at Parris Island. He served in the pacific theater as Quarter Master Officer for troop transfer. He fought at Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Pelleliu, Tarawa and Guam, among others. He received many medals, among those the Bronze Star for service above and beyond the call of duty in Iwo Jima and Okinawa. "Once a Marine always a Marine."
Following his military service, Capt. Wilson graduated from the University of Kentucky Law School and returned to Ashland to begin his law practice on October 20, 1948, and continued for 61 years. His first firm was Caldwell Robinson and then he joined Deiderich, Hermansdorfer and Wilson. In 1969, he and James Stavros established their practice that lasted 43 years. He was the longest practicing attorney in Ashland. He was an officer of the Jr. Chamber of Commerce, a scout master, a member of the Lions Club, BPOE 350, Toastmasters Club, Boyd County Council on Aging, Boyd Co. Bar Association and the Kentucky Bar Association. He served on the board of directors of Ashland Senior Citizen Center and was a member of the advisory board for the Ashland Jr. College/ACC. He was elected twice as chairman of the Board of Education of the Ashland Independent School system. He also served on the board of Federated Charities. He was a lifetime member of First Christian Church and served as a deacon and an elder. He was known to all as a man of high character, honesty and integrity. He was highly respected by his legal colleagues and friends as a man of his word. Most of all he cherished his family and beloved town of Ashland. He enjoyed fishing with his girls and hunting with his buddies. He treated everyone he met with kindness and respect. His big grin and sense of humor was always present. He was truly one of a kind.
He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Meade Wilson; daughters, Melissa Wilson (Rick Ford), Marcia Wilson Hermann (James), Susan Wilson (Joe Sexton) and Laura Donaldson; nine grandchildren, Noah and Madison Ford, Erin, Laura and Kyle Hermann, Wilson and Emma Sexton and Reece Johnson and AnnaLee Donaldson.
Visitation will be at First Christian Church on Winchester Avenue from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 27, 2012, with services immediately following. Burial will be in Ashland Cemetery in Ashland.
In lieu of flowers, friends may make a contribution in his memory to First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, 1930 Winchester Avenue, Ashland, KY, The Putnam Stadium Restoration Fund, c/o Donna Suttle, 1520 Lexington Avenue, Ashland, KY or the YMCA, 3232 13th Street, Ashland, KY.
We Love you more than tongue can tell and will miss you forever, Pop Pop.
Steen Funeral Home-Central Avenue Chapel in Ashland is in charge of arrangements.
1921 - 2012
Bunyan S. Wilson Jr. died peacefully with his family present on June 23, 2012.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Judge and state representative Bunyan S. Wilson Sr. and Mary Valenti Wilson and his beloved sister, Mary Powers Wilson Dyke.
He graduated from Ashland Senior High School in 1939. He was the last surviving member of the Ashland Tomcat football team that played the first game in the newly built Putnam stadium. He joked he was "148 pounds of shimmering beauty." He was president of the first graduating class of Ashland Junior college. He entered Ohio Wesleyan University and after the attack on Pearl Harbor he volunteered his service to the U.S. Marine Corps but was allowed to graduate before entering officers training at Parris Island. He served in the pacific theater as Quarter Master Officer for troop transfer. He fought at Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Pelleliu, Tarawa and Guam, among others. He received many medals, among those the Bronze Star for service above and beyond the call of duty in Iwo Jima and Okinawa. "Once a Marine always a Marine."
Following his military service, Capt. Wilson graduated from the University of Kentucky Law School and returned to Ashland to begin his law practice on October 20, 1948, and continued for 61 years. His first firm was Caldwell Robinson and then he joined Deiderich, Hermansdorfer and Wilson. In 1969, he and James Stavros established their practice that lasted 43 years. He was the longest practicing attorney in Ashland. He was an officer of the Jr. Chamber of Commerce, a scout master, a member of the Lions Club, BPOE 350, Toastmasters Club, Boyd County Council on Aging, Boyd Co. Bar Association and the Kentucky Bar Association. He served on the board of directors of Ashland Senior Citizen Center and was a member of the advisory board for the Ashland Jr. College/ACC. He was elected twice as chairman of the Board of Education of the Ashland Independent School system. He also served on the board of Federated Charities. He was a lifetime member of First Christian Church and served as a deacon and an elder. He was known to all as a man of high character, honesty and integrity. He was highly respected by his legal colleagues and friends as a man of his word. Most of all he cherished his family and beloved town of Ashland. He enjoyed fishing with his girls and hunting with his buddies. He treated everyone he met with kindness and respect. His big grin and sense of humor was always present. He was truly one of a kind.
He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Meade Wilson; daughters, Melissa Wilson (Rick Ford), Marcia Wilson Hermann (James), Susan Wilson (Joe Sexton) and Laura Donaldson; nine grandchildren, Noah and Madison Ford, Erin, Laura and Kyle Hermann, Wilson and Emma Sexton and Reece Johnson and AnnaLee Donaldson.
Visitation will be at First Christian Church on Winchester Avenue from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 27, 2012, with services immediately following. Burial will be in Ashland Cemetery in Ashland.
In lieu of flowers, friends may make a contribution in his memory to First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, 1930 Winchester Avenue, Ashland, KY, The Putnam Stadium Restoration Fund, c/o Donna Suttle, 1520 Lexington Avenue, Ashland, KY or the YMCA, 3232 13th Street, Ashland, KY.
We Love you more than tongue can tell and will miss you forever, Pop Pop.
Steen Funeral Home-Central Avenue Chapel in Ashland is in charge of arrangements.
Family Members
Siblings
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
