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Phillip Edson Wilson
Phillip Edson Wilson, age 89, of Butler, passed away Friday, January 27, 2023,
in Butler Memorial Hospital with his loving family by his side.
Born in Worthington on December 22, 1933, he was a son of the late Raymond L.
and Violet Pearl (Smith) Wilson.
Phil was born on Race Street, along Buffalo Creek, in Worthington. He had many
fond memories of growing up there, looking for the arrowheads in the woods and
fields and participating in games of football by playing the position of center
and always getting “trounced”.
He attended Worthinton-West Franklin High School, Worthington, Pa.
He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving from 1954 to 1957. He spent the
majority of his military service in England driving tanker trucks that refueled
the Air Force planes. He was stationed at Sculthorpe Air Force Base in England.
He recalled seeing Queen Elizabeth II one day and she waved at him.
Phil returned home to launch several business ventures, including a laundromat,
dry cleaning store, gas station, and restaurant. It was at his restaurant in
Chicora where he met the love of his life, Joyce. Phil and Joyce raised five
children, mostly in Butler, where they built their home.
Phil retired as a salesman from the George J. Howe Company after 30 years of
service. Friends and family remember getting wrangled into helping him load his
truck for the next day of selling and servicing retail accounts with the Howe
Company’s candy and peanuts.
Phil will be remembered, not only for his passionate love for his wife and
family, but for his many mannerisms and quotes and for his assigning nicknames
to everyone.
He was a member of All Saints Parish, Saint Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic
Church, Butler. He served as a Eucharistic Minister, and his faithful, devoted
service to the church was recognized with a Manifesting the Kingdom Award from
the Diocese of Pittsburgh in 2009.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Joyce M. Easley Wilson, whom he married Aug.
19, 1961; four children, Mary Beth Goerlich and her husband, Jeffrey, of
Pittsburgh, Kathleen Smith and her husband, Steven, of Renfrew, Corinne Schultz
and her husband, David, of Butler, and Phillip “Morey” Wilson, of
Kittanning; one brother, Steven R. Wilson and his wife, Delores, of Kittanning;
18 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; and a
number of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by one daughter, Sharon Wilson; two grandchildren; two
great-grandchildren; and five sisters, Betty Schwall, Jaunita Bowser, Jane
Karns, Joyce Yaraschack, and Janet Wilson.
Friends will be received in the Martin Funeral Home, Inc., 429 Center Ave.,
Butler, on Monday from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday at 10 a.m. from All
Saints Parish, Saint Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church, 432 Center
Ave., Butler, with Rev. Kevin C. Fazio officiating.
Military Honors will be accorded at the church by American Legion Post 117, VFW
Post 249, and American Legion Post 778.
Arrangements by Martin Funeral Home, Inc., Butler, Pa.
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