Joe Gail Wilson, retired pipefitter
Joe Gail Wilson, 92, of Rehoboth Beach, passed away peacefully at the Delaware Hospice Center Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012. Joe was born March 4, 1920, in Iberia, Mo., son of the late Frank and Maude Wilson. He was preceded in death by his older sister, Jean Bays of Iberia; younger sister Iva Lee Wall of Kenai, Alaska; and brother-in-law Donald Quint of Naples, Fla.
Joe was married for 67 years to his wife Esther Anne (Johnson), whom he met in the summer of 1944 while stationed at Dewey Beach in the U.S. Coast Guard. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Hope Lavachia and her husband Joe of Rehoboth Beach; granddaughters Heather Craig of Wilmington and Kelly Croll and her husband Doug of Westchester County, N.Y.; great-granddaughter Katie Craig of Wilmington; sister- in-law Juanita (Pete) Quint of Naples; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. He also leaves behind his FMC Dialysis Center "family" whom he called his angels for the past seven years.
Joe was a master pipefitter by trade and retired from Joseph A. Richardson Contractors in 1985. An avid outdoorsman, fisherman, and hunter, Joe enjoyed his long years living at the seashore. After retirement he cherished his annual trips to Alaska and summers spent salmon fishing on the Kenai River.
Memorial services will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 16, at Parsell Funeral Home & Crematorium, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, where the family will receive friends from 10 to11 a.m. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions to the National Kidney Foundation, 1301 York Road, Suite 404, Heaver Plaza, Lutherville, MD 21093, or the Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963.
