December 3, 1924 – August 26, 2023
Marion Wilson, 98, of Bedford, passed away on August 26, 2023.
He was born December 3, 1924, in Colville, Wa. to John J. and Jane Wilson.
He served in the US Navy from December 1941 until November 1942. Marion was on the USS Neches AO5 when it was torpedoed and sunk in the Pacific on January 23, 1924. There were 57 men lost and Marion sustained injuries during the incident. While assigned to a parachute loft where he assembled and repaired parachutes for pilots in the War, he had the opportunity to fly second seat for Lt. Commander Butch O’Hare. The O’Hare Airport in Chicago was later named for this First Ace of WWII. After the War, he trained with European Upholsterers and became a Master Craftsman at his trade. Opening his own shops.
For fun, he would go to the Warm Springs Reservation at roundup time and break Wild Horses for the Indians. For every two he would break, he would get one. Hunting and Fly Fishing were other joys in his life.
He married Sue in 1965 and they had two children. They built a log home in a small valley in the Cascade Mts. Then he was hired by a Resort Company that took them to 48 States. Besides Managing Resorts, the Company would fly him to other resorts to do motivational seminars. In 2002 they moved to Lawrence Co. to open Carousel Winery. The Winery has won an abundance of State, National, and International awards for its premium wines.
When Marion was 91, he traveled to Washington DC as part of the Indy Honor Flight program. While there he got to sit and chat with US Senator Bob Dole. It was a ‘great day’, he said.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Sue, His Daughter Dawn Wilson, Son, Shawn Wilson, daughter-in-law Vicki, Grandson Tyler Maat and Son Jimmy Wilson.
Friends are welcome to pay their respects to this wonderful man during a Celebration of Life on Saturday, September 30th, at Cresthaven Funeral Home, 3522, Dixie Hwy., Bedford. Casual dress, please.
