Ramon "Ray" Wilson

Ramon Chandler “Ray” Wilson, died Friday, December 16, 2011 at Kobacker House from complications following emergency abdominal surgery. Born at home in Carrollton, MO to the late Helen and Dr. C.W. Wilson, he graduated from Carrollton High School in 1954 where he played basketball and trombone in the marching and dance band. While growing up in Carrollton listening to the radio and records, he developed a life-long interest in jazz-particularly New Orleans, Dixieland and Kansas City styles. He received a B.S. in Science and Social Studies Education from the University of Kansas in 1958. Ray married Suzanne Stapleton on May 29, 1957 in Independence, MO soon after they had met on a blind date the previous Christmas. He taught at Crane Junior High School in Topeka, Kansas and started the family who survives him: Lisa Maureen Eggert and husband Michael, Gregory Chandler Wilson and wife Trish Neel, all of Columbus, Ohio; Julie Cathryn Wilker and husband Karl, of Springfield, MO and Jeffrey Cameron Wilson, of Missoula, MT; grandchildren: Brendan and Andrew Eggert, Austin, Emily and Johanna Wilker and Chandler Wilson; brother James and Judy Wilson, of Lees Summit, MO. In 1960 he began a career in the Elementary and High School text book business first in Missouri and Kansas living in Wichita and Lawrence, Kansas and later in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana as a representative and sales manager as well as a national science consultant. The family moved to Columbus from St. Louis in 1968 for what was to be two years and turned into twenty. He retired from McGraw Hill Book Company in 1996 after receiving national awards as an outstanding representative. From 1989-98, along with his wife, he was a proprietor of The Frederick Fitting House Bed and Breakfast in Bellville, Ohio. After his retirement they moved to Prescott, Arizona where he was a volunteer for the zoo and nature center which allowed him to further his continuing interest in nature and animal conservation. It also was a great opportunity for the addition to his seemingly never-ending “fun facts to know and tell”. In 2005 they returned to Ohio to be closer to family and friends and settled in Powell at the Homestead at Scioto Reserve. He thoroughly enjoyed travel, particularly to listen to all kinds of music—a highlight being a tour of Europe with the award-winning OSU Jazz Ensemble in 1986. There were many trips to New York-from little clubs to Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Cruises came later with his favorite being to New Zealand and Australia. An ardent Truman Democrat, he was the supporter of many liberal causes. He leaves close friends and extended family, The BBT’s, for whom he spun many tall tales about his childhood around the campfire at Hueston Woods, which was part of a tradition that spanned a couple of generations. At his request there will be no services but rather a celebration of his life with the sounds of his beloved “vinyl’s” and a bit of good cheer at a later date to be announced. He will indeed “be a part of that number—when the saints go marching in.” Memorial contributions in his memory can be made to any organization furthering jazz education or animal or wildlife conservation. Arrangements by the Rutherford Funeral Home at Powell, 450 West Olentangy St., Powell, OH 43065 (614)-792-1471. Send condolences for the family to: www.rutherfordfuenralhomes.com.