Ralph Wilson

Ralph O. Wilson Jr., 80, of Hinton, passed away at 1:15 P.M. Wednesday, November 16, 2005 at the Summers County Appalachian Regional Hospital at Hinton, following a long battle with brain cancer. Born in Huntington, WV on September 24, 1925, he was the son of the late Ralph O. and Helen Chadwick Wilson Sr. Ralph graduated from Hinton High School in 1944 while his father was working for Dravo Corporation, building the Bluestone Dam. He was drafted into the Army in 1944 and served in the European Theater and was part of the Occupation Forces in Japan. He was honorably discharged as a Technical Sergeant in 1946. He attended Concord College for one year, where he met his wife Patty. He went on to graduate from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a degree in Industrial Management. After graduation he went to work for Dravo Corporation, headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, where he held several positions in the finance department. During his tenure with Dravo Corporation, he lived in many places up and down the East Coast, Seattle, WA and Australia, finally retiring from Dravo in Pittsburgh, PA in 1990. While working for Dravo, he obtained additional degrees from Robert Morris College in Pittsburgh, PA and Graduated from Harvard Business Schoolâ??s Advanced Management Programs. In Pittsburgh he was active in the Junior Achievement Program, Dale Carnegie Leadership programs, United Way Campaign, and the Institute of Management Accountants (President of Pittsburgh Chapter 1986, National Director 1986 to 1988). He was also a graduate of Harvardâ??s Advanced Management. After his retirement he and his wife returned to Hinton where he became a â??professional volunteerâ??. He was President of Summers County Chamber of Commerce, President of the West Virginia State Water Festival and President of Main Street Hinton. He served on the Board of Directors of the Hinton Area Foundation, the Tri Cities Power Authority, the Summers County Wellness Center, the Hinton Railroad Museum and the Lilly Family Reunion Association where he served as Treasurer. He held memberships in the Summers County Community and Economic Development Advisory Committee, Kiwanis Club of Hinton, Sons of the American Revolution, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Retired Senior Volunteer Program and the Stuart Cameron McLeod Society (national accounting leaders). He most recently received a commendation for Outstanding Commitment to Volunteerism by the Governor of West Virginia and a Distinguished Humanitarian Award from the West Virginia Secretary of State. Ralph is survived by his wife of 58 years, Patty Lou Lilly Wilson, two sons, Martin O. Wilson and wife Leilani of Columbia, MD and Robert O. Wilson and wife Toni of Pittsburgh, PA, four grandchildren; Brandi and Robert Wilson II of Pittsburgh, PA and Alexa and Danielle Wilson of Columbia, MD, two brothers; Donald Wilson of Collinsville, MS along with his two sons and James Wilson of Culloden, WV and his wife , son and daughter. Besides his friends, he will be missed by his 102 year old mother-in-law, Mabel Lazio of the Summers Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Hilldale, WV and his brother-in-law, Edward Lilly at Halsteadâ??s Care Home his wife Mary and their sons, Dr. Edward Lilly and Alan Lilly and their families and the rest of the Lilly Clan. Funeral services will be held at 12:00 P.M. Saturday, November 19, 2005 at the Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors Chapel in Hinton with Pastor Jeff Canterbury and Rev. Robert Glaser officiating. Entombment will follow in the Greenbrier Burial Park Mausoleum in Hinton. Friends may call at the Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors in Hinton from 6-8 P.M. Friday and prior to the services on Saturday. Pallbearers: Robert O. Wilson II, R. T. Rogers, Ed Hannah, David Ziegler, T. J. Conway, Darrell Lilly, Dr. Ron Seaton, Scott Briers, Billy Joe Lilly, Mike Taylor and Pete Peterson.
Viewing Information: 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Friday at the funeral parlor
Funeral Information: 12:00 P.M. Saturday at the funeral parlors