James 'Gene' Eugene Wilson

James EugeneGene Wilson age 79, passed away at Harris Hospice in Presbyterian Hospital on April 26, 2010. He was born on November 10, 1930, in Barnwell, SC . He graduated from Fayetteville High School in 1950 where he was a starting member of the 1948 NC State Championship football team. He was a member of the Monogram Club, Homeroom Chairman and voted Best Sports Person in Fayetteville High School in 1949. He graduated from Fayetteville High School in 1950 and received a football scholarship to the University of South Carolina where he played Right Half Back opposite the famed Half Back, Steve Wadiak, in 1950. While at USC, he was captain of the football team, was an All-State fullback and is enshrined in the USC Hall of Captains at Williams Brice Stadium. Gene graduated from USC with a BA in Business in 1954. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins and played professional football at the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. He later served 2 years as a Lieutenant in the Air Force stationed in Biloxi, Mississippi. In 1971, Gene started his own business, Gene Wilson & Associates, Inc., which was a distributorship for fastener and packaging systems. He was a successful business man and loved to travel the Southeast and personally meet all of the people who bought his products. He genuinely cared about his employees as well as his clients. He was a well respected man in the business community. Gene remained loyal to the South Carolina Gamecocks as well as a season ticket holder for the Carolina Panthers. He was an avid runner and not so long ago would run 5 miles on the beach in the mornings or up and down the hills of Tega Cay before he went to work. He participated in the Charlotte Observer marathon every January until he was no longer able to run. He was the kindest most generous man there ever was. He never missed an opportunity to help others in need. His legacy of kindness will live on in all of those that he touched with his generosity. Gene saw the beauty in everything around him. He loved nature and his favorite pastime in his later years was sitting on the balcony of his home at the beach and looking out over the ocean. He loved the beautiful sunrise at the beach most of all. He loved watching the dolphins in the synchronized swim and the sea gulls flying above. He is no doubt one of those shining stars now twinkling bright above us all and never letting us forget that he loved us more than life itself.
Gene was married to Faye Tipton, his bride of 33 years, and resides in Tega Cay, South Carolina. He was a man of deep faith and a member of Unity Presbyterian Church of Fort Mill, SC. and was a devoted husband and a loving Father to his 3 children who made him so proud. There is no question he knew how deeply loved he was.
Gene leaves behind his wife, Faye, daughters Tina Wilson Bobrowski and husband Robert Bobrowski, Pamela Wilson Fisher and husband Dr. David Fisher both of Charlotte, NC. His son David Wilson of Pineville, NC. In addition, he leaves behind his grandchildren Lauren Bobrowski Neuhaus and husband Scott of Fort Mill, SC, Mia Bobrowski, Luke Bobrowski, Adam Fisher, Ben Fisher, Alex Fisher and Monica Wilson all of Charlotte, NC. A man of many fortunes, he also had the blessing of 5 great-grandchildren, Tori Bobrowski, Nate and Mia Neuhaus, Olivia Neuhaus, and Brent Neuhaus. He is predeceased by his parents, Lee Wilson and Sadie Moody Wilson. He is also predeceased by his brother Leroy Wilson and his sister Grace Graves. He leaves behind his other sisters, Inez Meng and Margaret Leaphart of Columbia, SC, and Frances Zeigler of Chapin, SC as well as a brother, McLaurin Wilson of Columbia, SC.
Funeral services will be held Friday April 30, 2010 at 2:00pm at Unity Presbyterian Church at 303 Tom Hall St., Fort Mill, SC. Burial will follow in the Unity Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00pm on Thursday April 29th at Palmetto Funeral Home , 2049 Carolina Place Drive, Fort Mill, SC. Memorials may be made to Unity Presbyterian Church, PO Box 1267, Fort Mill, SC 29716 or Presbyterian Hospice and Palliative Care, c/o Harris Hospice Unit, PO Box 33549, Charlotte, NC 28233 for the loving and compassionate care that was shown to our Father in his final days. We will never forget your many kindnesses.
Palmetto Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Fort Mill is serving the family of Mr. Wilson.

To plant a tree in memory of James 'Gene' Eugene Wilson, visit the Tribute Store .