Aubrey L. Wilson

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — Aubrey Lorain Wilson, a resident of East Prairie, Missouri, died Sunday, August, 4, 2019, at the Bertrand Nursing and Rehab Facility following a brief battle with lung cancer. He was 97.

Born Nov. 30, 1921, at Wildersville, Tennessee, the son of the late Alfred Carlin and Lena Lewis Wilson, he lived his early life on his grandparents’ farm in West Tennessee during the Great Depression. He came to Missouri in the early 1950s, settling in the Dorena community where he taught at the Dorena School and was a Church of Christ minister. He continued his teaching career in the East Prairie school system, teaching junior high social studies for many years during the 1960s. He retired as a school counselor after 36 years in public education.

He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army. He served with the 5th Army under the command of Gen. Mark Clark in North Africa and Italy. He also was assigned to the 12th Army Air Corps for part of his service. He served as a medic’s hospital assistant, company clerk, chaplain’s assistant and an amphibious vehicle driver during the war. He earned two non-combat bronze service stars and a good conduct medal, plus a host of European theater and occupation citations.

After the war, he earned college degrees from Freed Hardeman Junior College and Bethel College in Tennessee, then earned a master’s degree from Southeast Missouri State Teachers’ College.

Survivors include: his wife, Dora Margaret Hurt Wilson of East Prairie, Missouri; two sons and daughters-in-law, Stephen Joel Wilson and wife, Deborah, of Sisters, Oregon; Todd Lorne Wilson and wife, Michelle, of Lake City, Florida; one daughter and son-in-law, Jo Ann Summerlott and husband, Eddy, of East Prairie, Missouri; grandchildren, Adam Summerlott and wife, Stephanie; Ryan Mitchell and wife, Sarah; and Lauren Wilson; two great-grandchildren, Hunter Mitchell and Harper Mitchell. Also surviving is a sister, Mary Rose White of Ruleville, Mississippi.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, James Larimore Wilson.

Friends may call from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie where services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday.

Burial with full military honors will follow at East Prairie Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Ponder/Shelby Funeral Home.

The family wishes to express its thanks and gratitude to the caring staff at Bertrand Nursing and Rehab facility, Dr. Steven Douglas, and VNA Hospice.

Paid obituary