Patrick Wilson

Patrick Wayne Wilson passed away on Sunday, October 29, 2017, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was 90 years old.

Pat was born in El Paso, Texas, on July 26, 1927. He grew up on the Wilson family ranch near Pyote, Texas. After attending the Shriner Institute in Kerrville, Texas, Wilson completed basic training at Camp Roberts in California. In 1946, after completing officer's candidate school at Fort Benning, Georgia, Wilson went to West Point, New York. During this time, he met Mary Elaine Bryan and they married in 1950 in Lamy, New Mexico. In 1950, he was assigned to the 511th airborne infantry regiment. He served in Germany for the 16"1 infantry and then was assigned to the 18th infantry at Aberdeen Proving Grounds.

In 1955, Pat Wilson worked on his master's degree at the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, California, then transferred to Fort McClellan, Alabama, and taught physics at Jacksonville State College. Wilson returned to Aberdeen Proving Grounds before serving in Greenland with the 10th artillery. Wilson completed Armed Forces Staff College School then served in the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1971 where he commanded a maintenance battalion and earned a Bronze Star. After the Vietnam War, he served in the South Pacific on Johnston Island and at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. From 1973 to 1976, Wilson worked at the Sandia Base in Albuquerque and the Nevada Test Site. Wilson's last tour was as Deputy Commander of White Sands Missile Range from 1976 to 1980, overseeing technical operations.

In addition to his military service, Pat Wilson had a deep passion for southwestern memorabilia and was an accomplished gunsmith and engraver. Like many others in his family, Wilson was a pilot and enjoyed flying across the southwestern United States.

Patrick Wilson is survived by his wife, Mary Elaine, children, Patricia and David Briggs and Anne Elizabeth Wilson, as well as grandchildren, Genevieve and Mike Stefiuk, Bryan Lee Briggs, Vivian Wilson, and great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his siblings John Henry Wilson, Frank Dayton Wilson, Ned Wilson, Genora Vivian "Bea" Daniels, and Mary Wilson Thornton.

The funeral service for Patrick Wilson will be held on Saturday, November 4, 2017, at 1:30 PM at the First Baptist Church of Ruidoso, New Mexico. Following will be a graveside service at Gavilan Memorial Park and Cemetery.

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