George Robert Wilson, loving husband, father, grandfather, friend and mentor, passed away, Monday, December 14, 2009, at the age of 75.

George was born September 21, 1934, in The Dalles, Oregon, to parents George and Winona Wilson. He grew up in Kent, Oregon, on the family wheat farm and graduated from Shawnigan Lake High School on Vancouver Island, Canada, and later earned undergraduate degrees in economics from Stanford University, engineering from the University of Missouri and a master's in aeronautical engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology in Ohio. At Stanford, he was proud member of the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity and active in the US Air Force ROTC. Through the ROTC program, he was commissioned a First Lieutenant in the Air Force and then did flight training in Florida.

He loved flying jets and was a pilot for the Strategic Air Command for the U.S. Air Force. He was stationed in Vietnam and proudly flew 'Puff the Magic Dragon,' an AC-47 aircraft. His last position with the Air Force was at the Pentagon, in the office of the Secretary of Defense.

After he retired from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel, he moved to Richland to work for Rockwell at the plutonian finishing plant and retired from Westinghouse in 1995.

George met the love of his life, Sondra Davis Fisher, in 1974 and together they raised four children, George Edward, Robert, Jo Ann and Carin.

His love for flying and travel never diminished. From the time he was a child, watching his dad flying over the farm to flying jets himself, he loved to be on the go. In 1983, with George's enthusiasm and encouragement, he and Sondra opened a travel agency which won numerous awards through the years for various outstanding achievements.

George and Sondra traveled the world with a special affinity for cruises. They also enjoyed spending time at their other home in Palm Desert, CA. In his spare time, he enjoyed golf and was a member of the Meadow Springs Country Club in Richland and the Lakes Country Club in Palm Desert. He helped charter the Riverside Rotary Club and was a member of the Columbia Center Rotary since 1996. He also was active in the United Way campaigns.

He is survived by his wife, Sondra; sons George Edward Wilson Chris in Dallas, Texas; Robert Wilson Nancy in Isabella, Puerto Rico; daughters, Jo Ann Wilson Wake Peterson in Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Carin Marney Dave; and granddaughters, Paige and Grace in Sammamish, WA. He is also survived by his stepmother, Ann Franklin; and stepsisters, Mavis Olsen Bob, Darla King Bob and Donnice Holzman Don. Proceeding in death were his parents, George and Winona Wilson.

A celebration of his life will be held Friday, December 18, 2009, 1:00 p.m. at Columbia Center Rotary Event Center, located at 6222 John Day Avenue, Kennewick, WA. Followed by a military graveside service at Einan's Funeral Home located at 915 Bypass Highway in Richland. A reception will follow at Einan's Event Center. The family requests in lieu of flowers, donations in George Wilson's name be made to the Columbia Center Rotary Foundation, 6222 W. John Day Avenue, Kennewick, WA 99336.