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Eugene V. ‘Jake’ Wilson, WWII veteran

January 19, 2018

Eugene V. Wilson "Jake" of Lewes passed away Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018.

Born at home on his family's farm in East Texas in 1919, he attended North Texas University prior to enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1941. He was assigned to serve as flight engineer and crew chief at MacDill Field in Tampa, Fla., where he was part of the original B26 squadron forming there. Additional training took him to Baltimore, Md., to the Martin Aircraft factory where the B26 Martin Marauder was designed and built.

When the Ninth Air Force was deployed to Europe, Jake was assigned to duty in the 397th Group at Rivenhall in Eastern England. There he was promoted to squadron chief inspector, and was also responsible for managing all aircraft crew chiefs. Following a very busy D-Day, his group relocated to Carentan in France and subsequently to Belgium and Holland.

Following his military service, he returned to Houston and had a job with Hughes Tool Company. In 1948 he was married to the love of his life, Rae. They spent the next 50 years in Houston. Jake continued with Hughes, managing the production control and powdered metals departments. He and his wife Rae, who died in 2004, moved to Lewes in 2000 to be near family.

He is survived by his son Gene Wilson; daughter-in-law Genevieve; and two grandchildren, Colin and Skylar Wilson. Services will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Meals on Wheels, 32409 Lewes-Georgetown Highway, Lewes, DE 19958.

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