Obituary: Darrell Wilson

Darrell Wilson 1/12/1921~11/10/2005 Born to John Richard Wilson Jr. and Jennie May Mitchell January 12, 1921. He was fifth of seven children. He had three sisters and three brothers. Darrell graduated from Payson schools and attended the old Central Utah Vocational School. He started working at age 16 for Nebo School District. After graduation, he worked for Dixon Taylor Russell Company in Provo, Utah. Darrell served in the army, after which he went into business for himself. Darrell married Georgia Elaine Norman December 18, 1942. They built their first home in Provo. In 1945 they moved to Springville, Utah. They are the parents of five children, Lynda Mae Fackrell, Connie Lee Redford, James Norman Wilson, Mary Jane (deceased), and John Richard (deceased). They have 11 grandchildren and nine and one-half great-grandchildren who were his, and Georgia's, delight. He acquired a General Contractors License and a Cabinet Manufacturing License. He worked more than 45 years maintaining these licensures. He worked for many contractors such as W.W. Clyde Co., Springville; F.H. McGraw, Chicago; Standard Education Supply, Chicago; Utah Construction at Geneva Steel; Hurst Construction, Payson; LDS Church Building Committee, as a superintendent, and later as Assistant Area Supervisor in Utah, Tonga, and Fiji South Pacific; BYU as a administrator in the Physical Plant where he retired in 1982. He oversaw the completion of the Queen's home in Tonga. Many of the buildings he was responsible for were the Boy Scout Lodge in Payson Canyon, Provo Temple, Missionary Training Center, Kimball Tower, Tanner Building, BYU Observatory, and many homes and church buildings in Utah and Salt Lake Counties. He was active in the LDS Church where he served in many areas, Sunday School teacher, Aaronic Priesthood advisor, Young Men president, Elders Quorum, counselors in the bishopric, High Priest Group Leader, and his most enjoyable of all, a home teacher. He was a Scout leader for 35 years. He was an Explorer Scout leader where he was co-author of the Explorer Scout Manual. He received many letters of commendation from the Scout Council and the General Authorities. Darrell and his wife, Georgia, served an LDS mission in Fiji and Tonga from 1972-1973, where they were one of 13 to serve as Rehabilitation Service Workers for the church. While serving a Stake Service Mission at Deseret Industries, he trained handicapped workers to become self-reliant and earn their own way was also one of his loves. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II with the 81st Wildcat Division. He was a former member of the American Legion and a life member of the Disabled American Veterans. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club for 30 years and served as president in 1996-1997 where he received four Distinguished Service Awards. Our dad, grandpa, and great-grandpa Darrell will be greatly missed by his family, but we are sure that he is with his beautiful wife and eternal companion again, who is the joy of his life, and to this we are grateful. Grandpa, we love you and will miss you dearly. Funeral services will be Tuesday, November 15, 2005 at 11 a.m. in the LDS Chapel, 860 East 200 North, Springville. There will be a viewing Monday evening from 6-8 p.m. at Wheeler Mortuary, 211 East 200 South, Springville, and Tuesday at the church one hour prior to the services. Interment with military rites by the American Legion will be in the Payson City Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to www.wheelermortuary.com