Kenneth “Ken” Edwin Wilson, 84 of Howe left his Earthly home peacefully surrounded by family on Tuesday, August 15, 2023.
Ken was born to Willie “Bill” and Lucy (Lockett) Wilson at home on April 6, 1939, just outside of Van Alstyne. He attended school in Van Alstyne and Howe before graduating from Sherman High School in 1957. The next day, on May 25, 1957, he married his beloved wife, Carolyn Wicks. Carolyn was the daughter of Benjamin and Hazel (Forbus) Wicks formally of Sherman. They had more than 51 years together and four children before the Lord took her on August 28, 2008.
Ken was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army and his service to his country between October 1958 and February 1962 as a Specialist 4, Wheel Vehicle Mechanic. He received his basic training at Fort Carson, Colorado before being stationed in Aberdeen, Maryland where his bride and oldest son, Kenneth, were able to join him before returning to Texas while Ken did a tour at Camp Page, South Korea stationed with the 4th Support Company, the 8th Army.
After leaving the military to rejoin his family in Texas, Ken began his 30-year career with Texas Instruments. He worked in their Dallas, Sherman, and McKinney facilities before retiring. He loved to tell the story of how he was the first employee in the all-new Sherman plant. The responsibility of opening the new plant wasn’t a burden but an honor for him. During the early years of working for T.I., he attended Grayson County College and East Texas State University. He was a Summa Cum Laude honor graduate from both, receiving his A.S. and B.S. in Criminal Justice. He was a member of the Alpha Chi National Honor Scholarship Societies of Texas, Lambda Chapter of ETSU.
After enjoying a bit of retirement Ken went to work for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice at the Beto I Unit in Palestine and the French Robertson Unit in Abilene before transferring to the Choice Moore Unit in Bonham. It was here that Ken was the first employee to retire from the C. Moore Unit four years after it opened.
Ken enjoyed talking about guns, shooting guns, going to casinos, deer hunting, playing 42, traveling, motorcycles, guns, and, of course, guns. He taught his children and grandchildren to enjoy these things as well. He even taught one of his daughter’s friends how to shoot before she joined the Air Force. He was a member of the American Legion Van Alstyne, Texas – James Adams Post 376 and an Endowment Life Member of the National Rifle Association.
He is survived by sons Kenneth Wilson, II and wife, Brenda and David and wife, Betty Wilson all of Howe; daughter Katheryn and husband, Cecil Scott of Bells; daughter-in-law Stacy Williams of Weatherford; grandchildren Tracey Stebbins and husband, Kenneth Stebbins, Jr. and Marissa and husband, Tristan Staley all of Denison, William and wife, Kalinda Wilson of Howe; Nathan and wife, Ashley Wilson of Bells; Meghan Williams of Weatherford and fiancé, Jansen Alker of Decatur, Texas; and ten great-grandchildren.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Willie and Lucy Wilson; wife, Carolyn Wilson all formally of Howe; their youngest son, Gary Wilson, formally of Weatherford; and only sibling, sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and Phillip Mudrick, formally of Paris, Tennessee.
Family and friends will gather from 2-2:45 p.m. Saturday, August 19, 2023, at the Scoggins Funeral Home and Crematory at 637 West Van Alstyne Parkway in Van Alstyne. Graveside services with military honors will begin at 3 p.m. at the Van Alstyne Cemetery. David Harrison will officiate. Pallbearers will be Kenneth Wilson II, David Wilson, William Wilson, Nathan Wilson, Cecil Scott, and Kenneth Stebbins, Jr. Honorary pallbearers will be Terry Wilson and James Byers.
Ken’s family wishes to extend their sincere gratitude to the staff at Texoma Medical Center for their care and support these last three months. Condolences may be registered online at www.scogginsfuneralhome.com.