In Celebration of the Life of Samuel L. Wilson

Samuel L. Wilson was born November 17, 1918 and passed peacefully on June 14, 2005. In his 87 years of adventure he experienced much, accomplished many things and endeared himself to many.

Born and raised in Texas, he finished school in Goodnite, Texas in 1936. Between then and 1944 he worked for the Sante Fe Railway in Clovis, NM, as a machinist. In 1941 he had the honor of being sent to Chicago to study diesel.

In September of 1944 he enlisted in the Army, serving in New Guinea and the Philippines until his honorable discharge in 1946, after which he returned to employment with the Sante Fe in Barstow, CA

In 1948 he followed his siblings, brothers Dick, Dennis, Ralph and Burel, and sisters Johnnie Ruth, and Jimmie Eileen all of whom precede him in death to Richland, where he worked for General Electric as a diesel electric locomotive technician. Again in 1950 he volunteered to service his country, this time in Japan and Korea. Another honorable discharge and he returned in 1951 to work for the railway.

He and Retha C. Bishop were married in 1949. Sam and Retha lived for many years in the Panama Canal where Sam was employed in the railroad division and later promoted to Locks Operator then to Lead Machinist in charge of lock maintenance.

In 1967 he accepted a transfer to Galveston, TX where he worked until retirement. He and Retha retired in Richland in 1970, enjoying the years of family involvement prior to her passing in 1975. To fill the void afterwards, he spent night and day at Denny’s, slurping coffee, smoking cigarettes and yackety-yacking, which he continued to do until the very end.

Sam had an insatiable love for reading history or political books. He had an incredible memory and was an energetic and dramatic storyteller. He loved to garden and he cooked the best beans and cornbread this side of the Mississippi. We all have special memories of Sam, and can recite kindnesses that we knew him to quietly bestow and recall stories he told of adventures he and his brothers shared during their growing up days. As Nieces and Nephews, he held for us a piece of each of our fathers or mothers, his brothers and sisters, that passed before him. He was always cheerful, taken by the “mulleygrubs” very seldom and only on particularly overcast days. He would say “Hey” before he’d say hi and he always said “I love you”. He loved being a bad boy, sneaking to the fire escape outside his hospital room to have a smoke….not realizing he was in full view of the doctor’s lounge until his doctor asked how the fire escape view was. He was peaceful and cheerful to the end and he no doubt greeted Heaven with the same charm and enthusiasm as he did life. He was a good and loyal man, a good servant and a good guy to call when you wanted to hear just one more story. He’ll be missed.

He is survived by step-daughter Sarah Ann and Paul Ousley, along with their children and grandchildren; sister-in-law Jerrry Wilson; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 4:00 PM Saturday, June 18, 2005 at Einan’s Funeral Home, Richland.