LTJG Eugene K. Wilson VP-4 1957 – 1959
Gene Wilson flew on Crew 11 and served as Assistant Electronic Material Officer.
Eugene “Gene” Kenneth Wilson was born in Enid, Oklahoma, on March 7, 1934, to Arthur Roy Wilson and Anna Mary Brooks. He passed away on September 4, 2023, in Lakewood, Colorado. Gene eventually moved, with his family, to Granada, Co. He graduated from Granada High School on May 22, 1952. He enrolled at the University of Colorado, Boulder, as an aeronautical engineering student in the fall of 1952. In Oct. 1955, Gene put his college career on hold and enlisted in the U.S. Navy Flight Cadet Program. He completed flight training at Hutchinson, Ks. and Pensacola, Fl. and became Aircraft Carrier Qualified on December 1, 1956. Gene earned his Naval Aviation Wings and was commissioned as an Ensign on April 14, 1957. He completed advanced flight training on P-2V Neptune Anti-Submarine aircraft and spent two years at Okinawa, Japan, assigned to patrol squadron VP-4, where he was advanced to L.T.J.G. On August 17, 1959, he was released from active duty and returned to C.U. to complete his degree, graduating on August 26, 1961. Gene met his wife of 61 years, Beverly Ann Erwin, of Hayden, Co., during his time at C.U., where both were students. They were married at the Hayden Congregational Church on December 27, 1956. They were blessed with three children: Steven, Martin, and Juliann. Gene spent over 35 years working at Martin Marietta (now Lockheed Martin), working on multiple aerospace programs, including various Titan rockets and Skylab. His job took him to California, Texas, Alabama, and Florida, working with NASA at times. He was a Freemason for many years. Gene obtained a Worshipful Master in 1980. A Resolution of Respect was held for him at the memorial. After retirement, Gene earned his Real Estate license and was a Broker for many years. Gene enjoyed hunting, especially Elk and Deer, and fishing. He was very proud of his Scotch-Irish heritage. Gene was preceded in death by his wife, Beverly, parents, Arthur and Anna Wilson, Lamar; sister, Barbara Ann Wilson Saint, Greeley; nephew, Mark Saint, Loveland; and great-niece, Autumn Saint, Lamar. He is survived by his sister, Cynthia Wilson-Boxley Vargas (Pascual), Evans, and five children: son Steven (Michelle), Idaho; son Martin (Barbara), Littleton; daughter Juliann Wilson Hargrave (Kenneth) Thornton; 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. A memorial service to celebrate a life well lived was held on Saturday, September 30, 2023, at 10 A.M. at the First Presbyterian Church of Englewood, Englewood, Co. Cremation took place, and the burial was at Hayden, Co., on October 8, 2023.
Published by The Lamar Ledger on November 30, 2023.
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/lamarledger/name/eugene-wilson-obituary?id=53666620
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