Lee Wilson was born June 14, 1920 in Enid, OK, the son of Leonard and Inez Darling Wilson. He died the evening of September 7, 2007, at the Commons, United Methodist Health Care Center, Enid, OK.
Lee attended schools in Enid and Watonga before graduating from North High School, Wichita, KS.
Lee and Levina Mae Paulding were married October 13, 1939, in Wichita. She died July 17, 2007.
Lee worked for Beech Aircraft as they made their first home Wichita. He had a private pilot’s license before he enlisted to serve in the United States Army Air Force during World War II, from 1944 to 1945. After the war, he returned to Beech Aircraft, designing, testing, and patenting innovating personal safety harness systems for aircraft. They moved to southern California in 1950 where Lee worked for Century Engineering, designing and manufacturing new and advanced missile aerodynamic systems, before starting his own machining company. In 1957, the business was sold and the family settled in Hollister, CA. Lee held various management positions with McCormick-Selph Associates before launching his own companies: L. Lee Wilson Engineering, Wilson Weather Control Materials, Inc. and Meteorological Operations, Inc. These companies developed and tested new materials and systems for weather modification or atmospheric research. Lee and Levina semi-retired to his parents farm, south of Kremlin, in 1973. Lee enjoyed driving buses for Kremlin High School and the Autry Vocational Education Center for several years before retiring. They finally moved to Kremlin to make their home in 1991. Lee was an active member of Kremlin Community UMC. He was also a 32 degree Free Mason and perpetual member of the Kremlin Masonic Lodge, until it merged with Pond Creek AF&AM 125 Masonic Lodge, to which he transferred. He was a member of the Enid Shrine Club.
Survivors are: brother Clarence Howard Wilson of Webb City, MO, sister Mrs. John (Mildred Ann) Winters of Tempe, AZ, five sons: Everett L., and his wife Janet, of San Jose, CA, Melvin J. and his partner, Nathan L. Linsk of Oak Park, IL, Loren L., and his wife, Susan J., of Kailua, HI, Darrell E. Wilson and his wife Gloria of Fort Bragg, CA, and Claude L. and his wife Pamela A., of Hollister, CA, ten grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. His wife, Levina, a sister, Inez Faye Gibson and his parents preceded him in death.
Leonard Lee Wilson’s funeral service will be at 2:00 P.M. on Friday at the Kremlin Community United Methodist Church with Pastor Debbie Hobson officiating. Interment will follow in Kremlin Cemetery, under direction of Wilson Funeral Home, Pond Creek, with Masonic rites by Pond Creek AF&AM 125, Jim Booth, Acting, W.M.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Circle of Love, Enid, OK, or Kremlin Community United Methodist Church. They may be sent in care of Wilson Funeral Home, P. O. Box 478, Pond Creek, OK 73766.
