Ernest “Ernie” Wilson

It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to Ernie Wilson, beloved husband, father, family member and friend. He passed away on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022, at the age of 85.

His story started in Lumberport, West Virginia, born to Madaline and Wiley “Ern” Wilson, homemaker, and coal miner. He was oldest brother to Jerry, Alan, and cousin, Steve, all of whom offered his parents laughter and woes, as is the way of boys.

He met the love of his life, Lael, in those WV mountains, and they recently celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary. He braved a church revival, walked miles across a mountain to see her, and survived her dad’s moonshine test. He bragged to all that he had gotten the best the mountains had to offer when he found Lael. Their story was a romance, as they never let a day go by without saying they loved each other.

 He joined the Navy and proudly served as a Corpsman/Medic on the USS Piedmont from 1954-57. He attended Fairmont State College in WV and put his teaching degree to work in Miamisburg, Ohio and then moved to Bradenton, Florida to pursue the outdoor life he loved. He taught and enhanced the lives of students at Samoset Elementary, Bradenton Middle, and as a Dean at Sugg Middle School until retiring in 1994. He developed lifelong friendships with coworkers throughout that chapter of his life.

 He and Lael provided a truly loving home filled with countless laughs, adventures, and opportunities to their daughter, Terri. They readily welcomed their son-in-law, Ed Mutell, into their hearts in 1985-though, as loving dads will do, Ernie asked Terri at the head of the church aisle at the wedding if she “was sure she wanted to get married.” He later claimed he was carrying on a family tradition, as Lael’s dad hadn’t made things easy for him. He gifted Lael with two loving fur-babies (dogs), Bella and Cassie-greeting them daily with “who loves you”, and enjoyed telling people his “wife had twins on her 80th birthday.”

 Ernie was an avid fisherman-member and officer of the River Rats Bass Club for many years, golfer-who shot his age multiple times, and sports enthusiast. If you could play it, Ernie would join you. He enjoyed making arts and crafts for family and friends, which were expressions of his love and care. He became a seasonal visitor to Franklin, NC, after having helped build a family vacation home, to further share his life with family and friends. He and Lael loved traveling, whether camping, cruising, or touring. They visited many countries either joining or making friends along the way.

Ernie could not have written the last page of his story any better-a beautiful day fishing with friends and a quick painless ending. He had a smile, sense of humor and welcoming manner which endeared him to anyone he met. He shared his love and laughter in equally generous measures.

He is joining his parents, brother Jerry, cousin Steve, and multiple friends and family in the next chapter and we are sure he is putting together a “game night” where the food and drink will be plentiful, and the laughter will ring.

He will be honored with at a memorial at Palma Sola Presbyterian Church in Bradenton with interment in the National Cemetery in Sarasota to follow. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you honor his commitment to children with donations to KIDS Place, kidsplacecac.org, PO Box 693, Franklin, NC, 28744, so that the next generation of stories can be as meaningful as his was.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ernest “Ernie” Wilson, please visit our floral store.