Gene V. Wilson, 88, of Fort Morgan, Colorado passed peacefully from this earth on Saturday, April 16, 2016. Gene was born to Glenn and Eva Wilson on May 30, 1927 in Bridgeport, Illinois.

He was a graduate of Olney Township, IL High School and was drafted into the Army right out of high school. He served in General Eisenhower's headquarters in Berlin, Germany and was honorably discharged in 1947.

Gene always had a sense of adventure and while there, explored the history of what remained of the city and countryside, writing weekly letters to his girlfriend of the castle and wealth in that city prior to the war. He married that girlfriend, Ann, and they settled in Robinson, IL. Both he and Ann's families had vacationed in Colorado and so, both had a dream of living there someday. Ann however, was emphatic about "not living in the sand hills." The opportunity presented itself for them to relocate to Colorado in 1956, when they came to Fort Morgan and where they both grew to love the sand hills, after all.

Gene spent his working life in the oil industry, starting out with Arapahoe Pipeline Co. which was eventually acquired by UniCal Corp. His territory encompassed Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas and the Four Corners area. Gene had a remarkable 36 year perfect attendance and perfect driving record of over a million accident free miles. Gene love the mountains, loved to travel and took his family exploring all the time. He was a well-read, quiet man with a keen wit, a dry sense of humor and a love of good music, especially the Big Bands.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Ann, of Fort Morgan; daughter, Lynn of Freehold, NJ; adopted daughter, Carolyn DeNezza of Lakewood, NJ; sister, Linda Wooldridge of Broken Arrow, OK and daughter-in-law, Dianna (Harbin) of Longmont.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Glenn and Mary Wilson and Jack and Eva Harrison; and by his son, David.

A memorial service was held Friday, April 22, 2016 at St. Charles Episcopal Church, 505 E. Eighth Avenue in Fort Morgan. Interment at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Fort Morgan.

Published in The Fort Morgan Times (CO) -  Aprril 20, 2016