of Conway, AR
June 1, 1925 - August 16, 2014
Herman Horacelee Wilson, 89, of Conway, Arkansas passed from this life on August 16, 2014. He was born on June 1, 1925 in Faulkner County near Quitman, Arkansas to the late James Fletcher and Ella Atkinson Wilson. Herman was a Navy veteran of WWII and served on board the USS PC 1242 in the South Pacific for two years. For several months their duty was escorting ship from Guadalcanal to the Guam area to protect them from submarines. They were then assigned search and rescue duties at Iwo Jima in search of downed pilots. After the war they worked with mine sweepers in ChiChi and HaHa Jima to clear harbors of mines.
After the war Herman attended Arkansas Tech and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville where he received a BS and MA in Agriculture. He taught Vocational Agriculture at Mabelvale High School for three years and then went to work for the USDA, Soil Conservation Service until 1980, when he retired as State Resource Conservationist. During his service with SCS he worked at Sheridan, Lonoke, Hope, Ft. Smith, and Little Rock.
Herman was a devout Christian and had been a member of the Methodist Church since 1950. He was always an active member and served on various committees in the church where he lived. Herman has also been a member of the Masonic Lodge since 1949 and was proud of his 50 year pin.
Herman is survived by his loving wife of 67 years; Mary Crider Wilson, three children; Patrick Wilson, of Grand Prairie, TX, Gail Newton of North Little Rock, AR, and Ann Grossman of Conway, AR, four grandchildren; Jessica Newton, Jacob Newton, Garrett Grossman, and Jon-Ethan Wilson, and many loving friends.
He is also preceded in death by his three sisters; Vivian Bivens, Norma Rowlett, and Nora Moore, one brother; Jethran ''Puny'' Wilson.
A Funeral Service will be held at Roller McNutt Funeral home on Wednesday, August 20, 2014 at 10:00 am with burial to follow at Crestlawn Memorial Park in Conway. Visitation will be Tuesday August 19 from 6-8 pm at Roller McNutt Funeral Home in Conway.
Online guest book, www.rollerfuneralhomes.com
Our condolences to Mary and Herman's family and friends.
- Dudeck Law Firm
Have enjoyed visiting with and talking family
history over the years at the reunions. My condolences to his immediate family.I am thinking
he was the last of the line from that era.
May God Bless you and give you comfort.
Jamea Theron Wilson Jr. (Pecos)
Mary, I am so sorry to read about Horacelee, my heart goes out to you. May put his arms around
you and comfort you. He is with God now.
Love you., Nelda
My condolences to Herman's family and many friends.
Barbara Humfleet
Garrett ,
so sorry to hear about your Grandfather. you and your family will be in our thoughts and prayers.
James, Janette and Elizabeth Fuller
I am so sorry for your loss. I have wonderful memories of your Dad and all the adventures we all shared in Hope.
I'm so sorry for you and your family's loss. God bless you. Give thanks to The Lord for our wonderful fathers for as long as we had them here on earth.
We are very sorry to hear about the passing of Mr. Wilson. You have our deepest condolences, and are in our thoughts and prayers.
May God be with you during your of sorrow
May God grant you peace during this difficult time. Sending love to the entire Wilson family and especially. Patrick a friend and past co-worker of ours.
Dear Mary and Family,
How blessed you are to have called Horacelee (All these years I didn't know that was all one word.) husband, father, and grandfather. My memories of him are all good. Smiling and friendly and ever-ready to be of help, will be words that come to mind whenever I think of him. He reminded me of his mother in so many ways. She was a huge part of my childhood and I loved her dearly. God bless you all as you celebrate his long and useful life.
Ann and family,
I am so sorry for your loss. Herman was such a kind and loving person. It is easy to see where you got your gentle and sweet personality. I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.
Herman was a friend, neighbor, and fellow church member but we came to know him best through his volunteering at the Salem Church Food Pantry. Occasionally things would get slow at the pantry and we would all sit and chat. Herman wasn't a big talker but sometimes he would tell a story about when he and Mary were starting out with young kids, or about being in the South Pacific in WWII, or about growing up on a farm during the Depression. Most of the details have been forgotten but we will always remember how his deep love for his family would shine through his stories. But I think we came to know him best through his prayers. Herman would pray for and with each person who came to the pantry. Sometimes after a prayer we would have to sit quietly for a minute to get our feet back in this world. We knew we had been transported into the presence of The Lord. Now Herman in truly in the presence of God. Rest in peace our dear friend.
Our love to Mary and the family,
Bill and Carol
Wilson family, Mrs Wilson, Patrick, Gail and Ann we are sad to learn of the passing of Mr Wilson. May God bless your family. Randy and Rita Benafield Henard