Otis A. Wilson

Otis Wilson’s final chapter was completed December 31, 2017, when his fight with throat cancer ended.   Otis was born June 17, 1948 to Otis Allen Wilson and Billie Wilson Wilhite.  He has two half bothers, Lindell (Dusty) Wilhite and Russell (Rusty) Wilhite.  Otis was a loving father of two sons, Otis Allen Wilson III (Ty) and Keith Allen Wilson.  He fondly spoke of how important and how much he loved his grandchildren Grant, Issabella, and Parker.  Otis was preceded in death by his father (Otis A Wilson), mother (Billie Wilson Wilhite), step-father (Russell Wilhite) and several aunts and uncles.  Otis was very proud of being an Eagle scout and his native American heritage with the Muskogee “Creek” Nation.

Otis’s life spanned 69½ years serving in the U.S. Army as an X-ray technician after graduating from high school.  He graduated with a BA in journalism from Northeastern State College in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.  Otis worked many different jobs that lead him to 32 of the 50 U.S. states.  He started out working in his dad’s barber shop shining shoes, he bucked hay, and was an X-ray tech on the Alaska pipeline.  He settled in Richland working on the Hanford Site double shell tanks, and from 1984 to 2015 he worked in Information Technology (Boeing Computer Services and Lockheed Martin). 

Otis leaves behind many tennis partners.  He was an avid tennis player, being the 1^st 30 year old to letter when he played for Columbia Basin College.  He played many matches and tournaments at CBRC, where he was known to be ready to share a few pointers to sharpen his opponent’s game too. 

As we close this last chapter of Otis’s life here are a few parting thoughts he often shared: (1) It doesn’t matter what job you perform or title you hold, but rather strive to be honest, be a good parent, a loving grandparent and a true friend; (2) Be accountable for your actions, your actions and in-actions have greater impacts than you realize; (3) Do not procrastinate, it is the devils tea.

The family would like to thank Kelly Deatherage and Laura True along with Nuclear Care Partners Wendy and Leslie for the great care given during the last few months.  Thank you to Dr. Datta, Yang and Lawenda for their medical care.  

Otis’s sharp wit will be missed.  A memorial gathering for Otis will be later this spring.