Charles Wilson

Charles Wilson, of Houston, passed away Tuesday, April 1, 2014 in Houston. Graveside services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the New Gordon Cemetery with Rev. Michael Jones officiating. The family will receive friends at Edwards Funeral Home in Strawn Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Charles, the first-born son of Carrel and Jinkie Wilson, was born July 2, 1939 in San Antonio, Texas. He attended schools in south Texas, Mississippi, and graduated from Katy High School in 1958. After a year at Lamar Tech University he joined the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in El Paso, Texas.

Charlie courted and married the love of his life, Ruth Schulak, in 1960. He recalls a teacher saying, "See that girl? You are going to marry her." Charlie and Ruth began their 53 year marriage in El Paso, TX where he was a medic in the USAF. He recalls it as some of his happiest moments of his life and was able to go back just a year ago with part of his family to reminisce one last time. Their only child, Karl E. Wilson, was born in El Paso.. After four years in the USAF, they settled in Houston where he was a U.S. Postman for many years. Charlie and Ruth spent time traveling to her homeland of Germany, and other countries, loved their two beloved shelties, numerous cats, and his beloved chicken, Henrietta, and enjoyed their home and garden. He loved to make what he called El Guapo's hot sauce, and fish in the bay with his son, Karl. In his latter years, he watched Ruth skydive, and even did a few himself. Charlie learned to play the bagpipes and entered contests in the Highland Games in Salado. Charlie loved the written word and had pen pals from other countries that he enjoyed immensely through the years, and kept two of his pen pals, Charlie McWilliams and Terry Wood for over 30 years, He also treasured his old Air Force buddy, Charlie Plunkett, who has traveled from Illinois to be with him today. Charlie also loved genealogy and between he an his nephew and friend, J.D. Stewart, the family now has a concise record of where their descendants lived and who they are.

Charlie will be remembered for his love of family, his beloved Ruth, his "Grannie" Welty, his beloved mother, his siblings and their family. He also loved his email buddies and they will miss his humor. He loved to quip to his sister and his brother that he was Mother's "most beloved." His greatest legacy, his family believes, will be the tender way that he took care full time of his beloved granddaughter, Kaitlyn Anne, from the time she was born until she started school.

Charles marched into his fate with valor and laughter and wanted to make sure his family knew he was all right with his passing. He is preceded in death by his father, Carrel E. Wilson, and is survived by his mother, Jinkie Wilson, 95, his wife, Ruth S. Wilson, his son, Karl, and his granddaughter Katie, who brought out a love in him he never knew existed. He is also survived by his sister, Sharon A. Stanwood (Dan), brother Dennis (Donna), niece, Jamie Fought (Matt) and nephews, Jon D. Stewart (Victoria), Craig Stewart (King), Nathan Wilson (Sarah), and Thomas Wilson (Aryana), his Godson. He treasured also his cousins and kept them laughing and reminiscing.

Also here today is Patsy Ray Mayo representing. His class of 1958 and new member of the Wilson family, Donna Wilson, who labored and provided food for the family for a week prior to his death. Many thanks to his sweet neighbors whom he treasured. Also, a thank you to his doctors and Hospice in his final days.