Donald Lloyd Wilson

Donald Lloyd Wilson of Tacoma, Peacefully slipped away to join his wife Shirley, of 65 years, on June 22, 2014 at the young age of 89. He will be remembered for his smile and endless sense of humor. His personal life was centered around traveling, fishing, baseball, and playing cards with his family and friends. Donald was one of five children, born in Sioux City, Iowa on May 12, 1925 to Harry and Jessie Wilson. Donald leaves behind his sister Katherine, his three children, Bonnie, Patricia, and Ronald, eight grand children, 19 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Donald served int he US Army during WWII from 1943 to 1946. After returning home he married his childhood sweetheart and love of his life, Shirley Mae Johnson. He then began his long career in the auto-body trade. Moving his family to Tacoma, Washington, he worked for Walker Chevrolet, Osborne McCann Cadillac-Pontiac, Russ Dunmire olbsmobile, and Hawkins Pontiac. He was well-known and looked up to in his involvement and achievements in all areas of the automotive trade, specifically auto-body and paint. He started from the floor, moving up to management, and then finishing his career as an instructor at Clover Park Vocational Technical Institute. He took great pride in his students (his kids as he would call them). After retiring from Clover Park he served as the Apprenticeship Coordinator for District 160, Machinist Union. He was a loving husband, father grandfather, and friend, who taught us to live life to its fullest by being kind, honest, hard working, and fun. He will be greatly missed but remembered always. Donald's memorial service will be held at 3:00 pm on Saturday, July 12, 2014 at Westgate Baptist Church, 1801 N Pearl St., Tacoma, WA.