Wilson

Phillip Edson Wilson, 89, of Butler, passed away Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, at Butler Memorial Hospital with his loving family by his side.

Born in Worthington on Dec. 22, 1933, he was a son of the late Raymond L. and Violet Pearl Smith Wilson.

Phil was born on Race Street, along Buffalo Creek in Worthington. He had many fond memories of growing up there, looking for the arrowheads in the woods and fields, and participating in games of football by playing the position of center and always getting “trounced.”

He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, and served from 1954 to 1957. He spent the majority of his military service in England, driving tanker trucks that refueled the Air Force planes. He was stationed at Sculthorpe Air Force Base England. He recalled seeing Queen Elizabeth II one day and she waved at him.

Phil returned home to launch several business ventures, including a laundromat, dry cleaning store, gas station and a restaurant. It was at his restaurant in Chicora where he met the love of his life, Joyce. Phil and Joyce raised five children, mostly in Butler, where they built their home.

Phil retired as a salesman from the George J. Howe Company after 30 years of service. Friends and family remember getting wrangled into helping him load his truck for the next day of selling and servicing retail accounts with the Howe Company’s candy and peanuts.

Phil will be remembered not only for the passionate love for his wife and family but also for his many mannerisms and quotes, and for his assigning nicknames to everyone.

He was a member of All Saints Parish, St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church in Butler. He served as a Eucharistic Minister, and his faithful, devoted service to the church was recognized with a Manifesting the Kingdom Award from the Diocese of Pittsburgh in 2009.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Joyce M. Easley Wilson, whom he married Aug. 19, 1961; four children, Mary Beth Goerlich and her husband, Jeffrey, of Pittsburgh, Kathleen Smith and her husband, Steven, of Renfrew, Corinne Schultz and her husband, David, of Butler, and Phillip “Morey” Wilson of Kittanning; one brother, Steven R. Wilson and his wife, Delores, of Kittanning; 18 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; and a number of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by one daughter, Sharon Wilson; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and five sisters.

WILSON — Friends of Phillip Edson Wilson, who died Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, will be received from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at MARTIN FUNERAL HOME, 429 Center Ave., Butler.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday at All Saints Parish, St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church, 432 Center Ave., Butler, with the Rev. Kevin Fazio officiating.

Military honors will be accorded at the church by American Legion Post 117, VFW Post 249, and American Legion Post 778.

For more information, please visit www.martinfh.net.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.