Don Wilson, 84, of Elizabethton, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, February 1, 2015, at his residence following an extended illness. He was the son of the late Hattie Ball and Earl D. Wilson and was born in Russell County, Va., although he had lived in Carter County since 1969. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Willene McCranie Wilson; two sons, Steve and David Wilson; a sister, Nelchene Sharpe; and two brothers, George Otis Wilson and Leslie Wilson.
Mr. Wilson was a veteran of the United States Air Force and served his country during the Korean Conflict. He served at the rank of Staff Sgt. and was an instructor on the B29 Bomber and the R4360 engine. He was a member of East Side Freewill Baptist Church and served the church in many capacities including as a member of the Board of Trustees and a Sunday School teacher of 20 years, teaching both the Adult Men’s Class and the Auditorium Class. He was a Thirty-Third Degree Mason and a 50-year member of the Dashiell Masonic Lodge #238 F&AM, the B.E. Wooten Council #119 Cryptic Masons, the R.D. Keller Chapter #214 of the Royal Arch Masons of Tennessee, the Carter Commandery No. 37 Knights Templar, a member of the Gideon’s International, a member and former President of the Elizabethton Rotary Club and past Chairman and President of the Elizabethton Economic Development Council.
Mr. Wilson was the founder and CEO of Johnson City Iron and Metal and Elizabethton Herb and Metal and a former salesman for People’s Life Insurance Company. He had a real passion for children and serving Jesus Christ and to that end sponsored a child with World Vision and was a sponsor for the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. His hobbies included golf, boating and traveling.
He is survived by two daughters, Debbie Wilson, Johnson City, and her friend, Sandie Harris, Erwin, and Sandy Carr and her husband, Jeff, Elizabethton; a sister, Betty McGlothlin and her husband, Jim, Richlands, Va.; three grandchildren, Donald G. Wilson, Daniel Wilson and Cara Carr; a great-grandchild, Sophia G. Wilson; two step-daughters, Gail Branch and her husband, Roy, Elizabethton, and Brenda Hornberger, Elizabethton; a brother-in-law, Bill McCranie, Biloxi, Miss.; a daughter-in-law, Glenda Wilson, Elizabethton; and his special friends, Jack Bunton, Bill Cline and Jim Troutman. Several nieces and nephews also survive.
A service to honor the life of Don Wilson will be conducted at 7 p.m. Wednesday, February 4, at East Side Freewill Baptist Church with Rev. Justin Deaton and Rev. Howard Messer officiating. The eulogy will be delivered by his grandson, Daniel Wilson. Music will be under the direction of his daughter, Sandy Carr, pianist; Alice Bunton, organist; Kenny and Kathy Lethcoe, vocalists; and his granddaughter, Cara Carr, vocalist. The family will receive friends at the church from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, prior to the service. The graveside service and interment will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, February 5, at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be Roy Branch, Jeff Carr, Bill McCranie, Randy Smith, Bayes Wilson, Daniel Wilson, Donald G. Wilson and Ronnie Wilson. Honorary pallbearers will be employees of the former Johnson City Iron and Metal and Elizabethton Herb and Metal. Military Honors will be accorded by the Carter County Honor Guard. Those wishing to attend are asked to meet at East Side Freewill Baptist Church at 10:15 a.m. Thursday to go in procession to the cemetery. The family would like to express sincere and heartfelt appreciation to his caregivers, Darlene Berry, Teresa Davis, Carol Sims, Nancy Smith, Cheryl Sneyd, Donna Taylor, Caris Hospice, Linda Byrd, Katie Blevins and Dr. Robert Schubert III, for the love and compassionate care shown to Mr. Wilson and to his family during his illness. Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers may make donations to East Side Freewill Baptist Church, 704 Siam Road, Elizabethton, TN 37643. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.tetrickfuneralhome.com and signing the guest book or by fax at (423) 543-4917.
Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, is serving the Wilson family. Office: (423) 542-2232. Obituary Line: (423) 543-4917.