Delmar Strong Wilson

Send Flowers

Visitation Schedule
Roller Coffman Funeral Home
923 Hwy 65 N
Marshall, AR  72650
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
6:00 till 8:00 PM
Service Schedule
Chapel Service
Roller Coffman
923 Hwy. 65 North
Marshall, AR  72650
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
2:00 PM
Cemetery
Marshall Memorial Gardens
Highway 27 North
Marshall, AR  72650
Memorial Contributions
First Baptist Church Food Pantry
PO Box 789
Marshall, AR  72650
Delmar Strong Wilson

of Marshall, AR

November 14, 1926 - June 20, 2015

Delmar Strong Wilson, age 88 of Marshall, Arkansas passed into his new life with his Lord on Saturday, June 20th, 2015 at Hospice of the Hills in Harrison, Arkansas, after a lengthy struggle with illness. His wife, son and sister were at his side. He went gently, as had been their prayers. He was born on November 14th, 1926 between Oxford and Wiseman, Arkansas in Izard County. Delmar was the fifth of nine children born to Joseph Luther Wilson and Edith Mary (Pinkston) Wilson. The family moved to Petit Jean Mountain and lived there for several years before settling on a farm in the Big Flat area. There they farmed their land. Delmar enjoyed working alongside his dad.

Delmar's dad died in 1941 and Mom was left with nine children to raise and care for. Rather than sending her children to live with others, Edith chose to keep her family together. They all worked to provide for the family. Delmar, at the age of thirteen, worked in the fields, plowing long days to help with family needs. When WWII broke out, Delmar answered his nation's call for service. At age seventeen he joined the Navy, serving mostly in the Pacific. After the war, Delmar returned to Big Flat and finished his schooling. He worked in various capacities over time. Among those, he worked with a seismograph crew for a petroleum company. Most of his work was in the construction field. He was an outstanding welder. He also tied steel. Some of the projects he worked on were: the St. Louis Archway, the Norfork Dam, the nuclear facilities in Batesville and Russellville, the underground missile silo near Greenbrier, the space center in Alabama, the St. Lawrence Seaway, and other projects in Louisiana, Texas, Kentucky, Illinois and Kansas. Delmar moved back home to Arkansas in the early nineteen-sixties. He brought his son home to raise. He met and married Patricia Watts, and they made their home in Marshall before moving between Harriet and Big Flat where they had bought a farm. After his retirement, the couple sold their farm and moved to Marshall. At their home there, Delmar loved to grow a big garden and give the produce away. An outdoor loving person, Delmar took great pleasure in keeping his lawn neat.

When he was sixty-six, Delmar learned to ride a motorcycle. He rode his Honda Goldwing all over the north half of Arkansas and also into Missouri. Riding brought him much pleasure until he wisely put the Goldwing away at age eighty. Delmar became a Christian early in life and was baptized in Big Creek. Church and Bible study was always an important part of his life. He married into a family who sang Gospel Music, so Delmar added his nice tenor voice which turned the Watts family trio into a quartet. They sang at many funerals, church services and singing conventions for several years. Delmar worked hard all of his life. He appreciated anyone who worked to make a living. He made it his mission to bring some joy to those workers with whom he had contact. In the deli, rarely left before he had joked with them and given them some special attention. As he and Patricia would sit on the apron of their home's driveway, he would gaze upon his lawn, hear the birds singing, watch the deer, squirrels, rabbits, and the traffic go by. He would tell Patricia that these were the happiest years of his life; he was happy with her, right with the Lord, happy with their home and life. He often expressed his great appreciation for her loving care for him. He wouldn't live anyplace else.

Delmar was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Luther and Charles Wilson; sisters, Veneeta Treat, Blanch Treat, Thelma Jo Pyland and Lorene Mask.

Survivors include his wife of nearly fifty years, Patricia (Watts) Wilson; son, Richard (Linda) Wilson of Rogers; brother, Clent Estes (Mattie Jo) Wilson of Bentonville; sister, Melba (Orgil) Shannon of Mountain View; granddaughters, Lori Hull, Kassi Bender and Erin Wynn; four great granddaughters, four great grandsons and several nieces and nephews. The world is poorer, but Heaven is richer because of Delmar's passing.

Funeral services for Delmar will be 2:00 PM Wednesday, June 24, 2015 at Roller-Coffman Funeral Home in Marshall, Arkansas with Bro. Sean Milliken officiating. Special music will be performed by Becky Patterson. Visitation will be 6:00 till 8:00 PM Tuesday, June 23, 2015 in the Chapel. Burial will be in Marshall Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers will be Rick Wilson, Lance Watts, Jamie McClanahan, David Treat, Terry Treat, Jamie Collins, Jimmy Treat, Dennis Treat and Doug Treat. Honorary pallbearers will be Beuford Tuell and Dr. Brad Allen.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the First Baptist Church Food Pantry, PO Box 789, Marshall, Arkansas 72650.






Sign Guestbook

9 Condolence(s)
Marinda Holliman
Jacksonville, AR
Liked
Friday, June 26, 2015

Patricia,
We were sorry to hear you have lost your husband and send our sympathy at this sad time in your life. May you be comforted in the days ahead. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Marinda and Rick Holliman

yvonne kimbrell
Marshall, AR
Liked
Thursday, June 25, 2015

i am so sorry for your loss. i look back and can see delmar and johnny on there bikes. we sure did enjoy riding together. we road alot of different places. i know he was sad when he had to give it up. i know johnny was. you take care and may GOD BLESS AND ALL YOUR FAMILY.

Loy & Mitzi Garrison
Leslie, AR
Liked
Thursday, June 25, 2015

Patricia & family, we are so very sad at Delmar's passing. He was always so very kind and friendly to us. I will so miss running into him at Harp's-which I seemed to do frequently.
To all of you we wish you ease of cares & sorrows know that he is healthy once again & in everyones memory that ever knew him.

Nancy Jones
Marshall, AR
Liked
Wednesday, June 24, 2015

I am so sorry for your loss. I will keep you in my prayers. God be with you.

Kenneth and Janet Rainbolt
Marshall, AR
Liked
Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Our prayers and thought are with you. Delmar was a fine man and will be missed by all who knew him. Look to God for comfort at this sad time.

Joe Wilson & family
Wylie, TX
Liked
Monday, June 22, 2015

We share your sadness that comes from losing family. We also share the joy of his life. As a kid growing up I always had a respect for him. I always thought he was a neat uncle and that it was really cool that he raised bees. Since growing up I've learned how important his work with bees were/ are to the survival of mankind. “If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would have only four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man.” some attribute this statement to Albert Einstein. I have wanted to start keeping bees more than once. Much more to learn before starting. Uncle Delmar planted that seed of curiosity in a young boy that's still growing today. This is just one way he impacted my life and hundreds and hundreds of others. He is a great man. I said IS because he still is. Away from us for a while but we will join him in heaven when GOD calls us home. Uncle Delmar you will be missed until then.

Jack and Edna Treat
Marshall,
Liked
Monday, June 22, 2015

So sorry for your loss. Our prayers and thoughts are with you.

Ronnie and Mazie Lee
Onia, AR
Liked
Monday, June 22, 2015

We want to send our condolences to all the family of this sweet, kind-hearted man. He was a wonderful neighbor to my Mom and Dad, they loved both of you Pat. We will be praying for your comfort in your loss. If we aren't at the services ....know that we would loved to be there.

Ted & Jo Ann Morrison
Springdale,
Liked
Monday, June 22, 2015

Sorry for the loss of your husband. May God bless and comfort you. Love and prayers!