Dale G. Wilson

Dale G. Wilson, age 85, of Ripley, Ohio died Sunday, February 24, 2008 at the Ohio Valley Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Ripley, Ohio. He was born in Brown County, Ohio on July 13, 1922 the son of the late Earl and Mabel (Howland) Wilson. Dale was a World War II Army Medic and served in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany. After the war he completed his funeral director's apprenticeship at the Adams Funeral Home in Akron, Ohio. Upon graduation from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, he was employed for a short time in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania before returning to Ripley, Ohio to join his uncle, Bob Kirkpatrick, in his funeral home. He then spent one year at the Hook Funeral Home in Washington Court House, Ohio before returning, again, to his hometown of Ripley to join Trapp & Gardner Funeral Home and Furniture store. In 1950 it became the Trapp & Wilson Funeral Home until it was sold to Cahall Funeral Homes in 1990. Dale was active in funeral service for sixty years until his death.

Mr. Wilson was involved in numerous community projects and activities. He was an active member of the Brown County Planning Commission and the Brown County Rural Water Association. As a member of the Ripley Junior Chamber of Commerce, he was the catalyst in obtaining official street signs for the village of Ripley. He was a longtime member of the Maplewood Cemetery Board and was honored by the group with a street, "Wilson Way", named after him. He was also named the Citizen of the year in 2001 by the Ripley Women's Club. Dale and his family have been very active in the Ripley Church of Christ where he served as an elder, board president and Sunday school teacher. One of Dale's greatest achievements was his involvement in establishing the Ohio Valley Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center just north of Ripley. Plans for the project were started in 1969 with the facility opening in three phases - 1971, 1975 and 1995. Dale was a kind and compassionate Christian man who touched the lives of all who were privileged to know him. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Russell and Jim Wilson and one sister, Caryl Campbell.

Mr. Wilson is survived by his wife of sixty-four years - Anne Marie (Haskew) Wilson, two daughters - Pam Baldridge and husband Larry of Springfield, Ohio and Janet Workman and husband Randy of Williamsburg, Ohio; two sons - Tim Wilson and wife Cindy of Orlando, Florida and Jeff Wilson of Ripley, Ohio; ten grandchildren - Stephanie Woods and husband Chris of Norton, Massachusetts; Larry Baldridge and wife Jennie of Rockville, Maryland; Luke Workman of Williamsburg, Ohio; Timmy Wilson and wife Johnna and Suzanne Wilson all of the Joplin, Missouri area; Daniel, Brittany, James and Kaya Wilson all of Orlando, Florida and Brandon Workman; eight great grandchildren - Braden and Hannah Woods of Norton, Massachusetts; Harley, Jesse, Avery and Madeline Wilson all of Joplin, Missouri, Logan and Keely Workman and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Thursday, February 28, 2008 at the Ripley Church of Christ. John Neu will officiate. Visitation will be from 4:00 - 9:00 P.M. Wednesday at the Cahall Funeral Home in Ripley, Ohio. Interment will be in the Maplewood Cemetery in Ripley.

If desired, memorials may be made to the Ripley Church of Christ Building Fund, 105 N. Third Street, Ripley, Ohio 45167 or to the Ohio Valley Manor Activities Department, 5280 US 68, Ripley, Ohio 45167.