Lt. Col. Woodrow W. Wilson, 85, of Derry, NH, died July 22, 2004 at home after a lengthy battle with cancer. “Woody” was born November 12, 1918 in Burkburnett, Texas to Clay and Minnie Wilson. A graduate of Lake Charles Army Flying School, Class of 43A, he flew P-39's out of Great Falls, Montana to Fairbanks, Alaska for delivery to the Russians. He was a flight trainer and flew the “Hump” from India to China, ferried P-51's and was a test pilot. He was assigned to FEAF headquarters in Japan and PACAF headquarters in Hawaii. He was an operations officer to the 95th fighter squadron at Andrews AFB. He was a senior advisor to the South Dakota Air National Guard, and was asst. operations officer and acting operations, Air Force Advisory Group, Military Assistance Command, Bangkok, Thailand. He was an operations inspector, 1st AF, ADC Inspector General at Stewart AFB. Over his Air Force career he had piloted the A-20, 24, 25, the AT-6, 11, the B-17, 24, 25, the C-45, 47, 87, 109, the P-38, 39, 40, 47, 51, 63, the T-33, the F-80, and the 86D, 94B, 102, and 106. An avid golfer, he retired to Orlando, FL in 1970 and had recently moved to Derry.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Kathleen “Roberta” Wilson, children and their spouses, Kathleen and Donald Saunders, Robert and Karen Wilson, Pamela and Thomas Small, grandchildren, Jessica, Jason, Joshua, Kate, Jacob, Kevin, Susan and Donna, great grandchildren, Victoria, Elizabeth, James, Rachel and Carly, his brother, Kelly Wilson and numerous nieces and nephews. He was a devoted husband, loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather, and will be missed by many.
The Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch St., Derry handled the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, Gail Singer Memorial Bldg., 360 State Route 101, Suite 501, Bedford, NH 03110-5032 or to the American Diabetes Assoc., NH Affiliate, PO Box 31160, Hartford, CT 06150-1160.