Robert Keith Wilson
January 21, 1931 - July 7, 2024
Robert K. Wilson was born January 21, 1931 to Keith Reber Wilson and Wilma Creek Wilson. He grew up on a farm near Tolono, Illinois, graduating from Tolono High School. He was the last living survivor of the class of 1949. He attended the University of Illinois for three-and-a-half years. He spent 21 months serving in the Army at Fort Lawton in Seattle. After he graduated from the University of Washington in 1956, he married Joan Blake in 1958, in Seattle, WA. Their son, Kregg Reber was born on December 9, 1960, and their daughter, Carolyn Louise, on January 23, 1966. He started his career working for a hotel chain and worked for industrial firms including Marco; Leckenby Co.; Foss Launch and Tug; Anderson Bridge, and local CPA firms. He was office manager for a CPA firm in Juneau, Alaska for two years and later became a CPA. After buying and refurbishing an apartment building in Seattle in 1978, Rob and Joan purchased an Ace Hardware Store. They have owned it since. Their daughter, Carolyn Conn, now operates it. On March 2, 2001, Rob and Joan’s granddaughter, Darian Nicole Conn, was born to their daughter, Carolyn, and her husband, Dennis Conn. Carolyn returned to run the store once Darian was of school age. Rob and his daughter-in-law, Miriam Wilson took a three-week trip down the Danube to the Black Sea, and later in 2005 he took a four-week trip through Germany. He played German and English street organs at public affairs for fun, and enjoyed woodworking. Rob and Joan have traveled all 50 states, and have seen 22 foreign countries. He collected mechanical musical instruments, including a Player Reed organ, Player piano, music boxes, and antique clocks. He was Treasurer of the Seattle Astronomical Society for 11 years, and Treasurer of Magnolia Community Club 14 years. He made a 22-inch, six-foot long telescope from Boeing 707 surplus parts. They have seen three solar eclipses. Rob was an Atheist from his teenage years. He celebrated his 93rd birthday January 21, 2024. Rob was predeceased in death by his son, Kregg, and is survived by his wife, Joan Wilson, his daughter, Carolyn Conn, and his granddaughter, Darian Conn.