Donald Wilson

Donald (Don) Wilson, 79, of Clinton, died on Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at Rex Hospital after a courageous four-year battle with multiple myeloma. 

Donald was a native of Harnett County and the son of Nick and Louise Wilson. He graduated from Anderson Creek High School, attended Campbell College and graduated from East Carolina University.  Donald was an active member of Graves Memorial Presbyterian Church, the Clinton Lions Club, the Sampson County Democratic Party, Clinton High School Boosters Club, and many other areas of his community.  In recognition of his involvement with the Lions Club, he received the Lion of the Year Award in 2001-02 and 2014-15. 

After graduating from college, Don taught school in Scotland Neck.  He then began a 33-year career with the Department of Motor Vehicles in which he served as a Sampson County traffic safety representative and subsequently a territory supervisor.  In the schools, where he certified the bus drivers, he was affectionately known as the “Bus Man”.

Donald was a man who embraced all facets of life throughout his youth and adulthood.  He was an outdoorsman enjoying hunting, fishing, taxidermy and landscaping.  He enjoyed attending NCSU and Clinton Dark Horse games. In his retirement years he and Carol enjoyed traveling extensively with their Clinton friends.

Ida Carol Senter Wilson was the love his life.  They were married in 1963 in Lillington and made their home in Clinton, where they raised two children. 

He is survived by his wife of almost 55 years, Carol; daughter Donna and her husband, Leonard Thagard of Raleigh, and their children, Nicholas and John; son Chris and his wife, Walker Wilson, and their children Jack, Will and Adelaide.  He is also survived by his brother Bobby and his wife, Brenda Wilson of Bunnlevel, his sister-in-law Marie Wilson of Bunnlevel and a large extended family.

He was predeceased by his sister, Carolyn Wilson and his brother, Charles Wilson; his brother-in-law, Mel Bethune and sister-in-law, Lydia Langdon. 

A celebration of Donald’s life will be held on Saturday, March 24 at 2 p.m. at Graves Memorial Presbyterian Church, 201 Fayetteville Street, Clinton with Dr. Stephen Wilkins officiating.  Visitation will immediately follow the service in the church fellowship hall.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Graves Memorial Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 201 Fayetteville Street, Clinton, NC  28328.

Royal-Hall is honored to serve the Wilson Family.

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