Robert Elton Wilson

Robert Elton Wilson, Jr. was born 11-21-1921 in Hale County, Snyder community. Hewas the eldest son of eight children of Robert Elton Wilson and Ollie B. White Wilson. He slipped out of our hands into the arms of God 2-4-2016 about 4:45 p.m. Elton, an honorable and humble man, joined the Army Air Corp shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He was 20 years old when he began training February 1943 in the Aviation Cadet Program at Kelly Field in San Antonio. Sixteen months later he became a “Hump Pilot”, carrying gasoline, bombs, ammunition, and supplies for the Allied war effort in China. His flight route over the Himalayas was called the “Aluminum Trail” because so many planes and pilots were lost there. Elton flew 92 round trip missions and earned two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Air Service Medals along with Chinese War Medals serving in the China, Burma, India Theater. Most flights were at night, through bad weather, sometimes with 100 mph winds. Communication was a problem and was done mostly through Morse Code. After four years of service, Elton was given a choice to re-enlist or head back to Texas. His heart turned toward home to the farm in Happy Union, south of Plainview. His dad needed him to take over the family farm. He came home in 1946 and met the love of his life, Anne Whorton. They were married for 54 years. Elton served this community through 4-H, Stock Show Board, was President of the Board of Realtors, sat on the board of the Plainview Chamber of Commerce, was a member of the Hale County Hospital Authority for 10 years. He holds an honorary membership in the Rotary Club and he was a Mason. He was a member of First United Methodist Church and the Wesley Sunday School Class since 1953. Elton is preceded in death by his wife Anne, two brothers and four sisters. Survivors include one sister, Daisy Law, two daughters, Jane Armstrong and husband Duane, and Sue Brightbill, two sons, Ted and wife Jody, and Paul who lives on the farm where Elton was raised. Elton is survived six grandchildren, Cory Armstrong, Aaron Armstrong, Keith Wilson, Kyla Wilson, Chris Brightbill, Matt Brightbill and their spouses. And he leaves behind ten great grand children, a large extended family and a number of loving friends. His six grandchildren will serve as pallbearers. He will be deeply missed and reverently remembered. Come and go visitation at his daughter Sue's starting at 5pm Sunday afternoon, Feb. 7. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, February 8, 2016 at the Plainview Memorial Park. A memorial service will follow at 2:00 P.M. Monday, February 8, 2016 in the First United Methodist Church Sanctuary. The family suggests in lieu of flowers that memorials can be sent to the First United Methodist Church, 1001 W. 7th, Plainview, TX 79072, Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 1984, Plainview, TX 79072, or Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch, P.O. Box 1890, Amarillo, TX 79174.