Paul Wilson

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Paul Kenneth Wilson, 71, entered into eternal life on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012, due to cancer.

Born into this world on Sept. 6, 1940, in Doniphan, Mo., to the late Archie and Hallye Sheppard Wilson, Paul came to Florida 26 years ago from Houston, Texas. He was a row crop farmer in the Mississippi Delta for 25 years. His 8,000-acre farms were worked with his sons, Philip and Darick. He was a pilot and called his plane a "good piece of farm equipment." He retired from Orange Industrial Inc. with a partnership and friendship with Roger Knack which he liked to say lasted longer than most marriages. His proudest achievement was completing the "Way of St. James the Apostle." The 500-mile walk in northwestern Spain earned him a "Compostela." He was recognized from the altar at St. James church for being one of only three Americans to complete the walk that day. As was his competitive custom, he continued his walk to Finisterre, known in the Middle Ages as the end of the world.

He is preceded in death by his sister, Ruth, his brother, Grover, brothers-in-law Proctor Christian, Jay Carruth and Floyd Atwood and a sister-in-law, Ann Wilson.

Paul is survived by: his loving wife, Delma Wilson of Winter Haven and the son they had together, Joseph A. Wilson of Winter Haven.

Other survivors include: two sons and daughters-in-law, Philip and Kay Wilson of Belle City, Mo., and Darick and Julie Wilson of Oklahoma City; one daughter, April Wilson of Mission, Texas; three stepchildren, Sylvana Marcello of Beverly Hills, Calif., and Theron and Julie Marcello and Troy Marcello of Orlando; four sisters and a brother-in-law, Lavonne Christian, Bonnie Atwood and Gladys Wondel (Wilson) of Missouri and Norma and Richard Mosier of Kansas; a brother and sister-in-law, Ralph Boly of North Carolina and Robert and Rosie Williams of San Antonio; seven grandchildren, including Anthony L. Marcello serving in Iraq and his "best pal" Hunter Paul Marcello; and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. today, Sept. 7, 2012, at the Crisp-Coon Funeral Home in Winter Haven.

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Memorial contributions

may be made to:

Vincent De Paul Society

"Walk For the Poor"

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