Wilson, Walter 'Walt'

Walter “Walt” Wilson, 80, of Cedar Rapids, died Feb. 13, 2010, at St. Luke's Hospital following an extended illness. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. Jon Wilson will officiate. Friends may call after noon Wednesday at the chapel. Inurnment will take place at a later date at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.

Surviving are his wife, Phyllis; children, Debbie O'Donnell and husband Keith of St. Charles, Mo., David Wilson and wife Vickie, Dewayne Wilson and wife Sharon, and Dennis Wilson, all of Cedar Rapids; his sister, Ramona Kelly of Marion; stepchildren, Colette Eddy of Cedar Rapids, Stacey Johnson and husband Neal of Delhi, David Yancey of Raymond, Iowa, and Jo Ellen Forman of Hiawatha. He is also survived by many beloved grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Earl, a sister, Thelma Palmer, and stepbrothers, Bob and Jim Farr.

Walt was born Nov. 15, 1929, in Riverside, Iowa, the son of Walter and Lelia Wilson. He graduated from Urbana High School. He served his country honorably in the United States Army during the Korean War. He was employed for over 36 years as a regulator at Iowa Illinois Gas and Electric Co. He was united in marriage to Phyllis VanDee on July 14, 1982, in Cedar Rapids. Walt enjoyed watching Chicago Cubs baseball, fishing, oil painting, cartoon work, and playing his harmonica.

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