Colonel Keith S Wilson, USAF, 98, died Monday evening, June 16, 2014, at Magnolia Manor Extended Care Center. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, June 19, 2014, at 11:00 AM in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church. Rev. Bill Dupree will officiate. The family will receive friends on Wednesday evening, June 18, 2014, between the hours of 5:00 & 7:00 PM at Hancock Funeral Home, 427 S. Lee St. Col. Wilson was born in Bolivar, Allegany County, N.Y., on October 21, 1915, to Forest Wilson and Edna Streeter Wilson. The Wilson and Streeter families were pioneers in the oil industry. Keith was preceded in death by Wives, Eunice Ferguson Wilson and Dorothy Carol Carroll, and two Daughters, Barbara Arshinkoff and Meri Edgemon. Survivors include his Daugher, Virginia Powell (Mrs. Richard Powell), and Son, David Keith Wilson, as well as, his Grandsons: William Keith Maddox, Jason Aaron Maddox, Mark Arshinkoff and Michael Arshinkoff and Granddaughters: Michelle Arshinkoff, Lindsay Miller (Husband-Jessee Miller), and Ansley Hart (Husband- Roland Hart). Great Grandchildren include William Maddox, Mandalay Mae Maddox, Morgan Maddox, Arden Miller, Jada Hart and Adrian Hart. Colonel Wilson enjoyed many talents. He played many instruments, including piano by ear. He was an athlete, scholar, avid hunter, fisherman and recreational sailor. He made and flew a glider with no prior flying experience at a young age. His love of flying later extended to flight records in helicopters, flying open pit cockpit byplanes, aerobatics and formation flying. Keith received a Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering from New York University and a Masters Degree in Aero-Engineering. He entered the US Army Air Corps and started and served as Director of Flying for the bombardier school in Victorville, California. As Branch Chief of the Rotary Wing Branch of the Engineering Division at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio, Keith was involved in oversight of the developing helicopter industry. He received The Legion of Merit for his service in the Rotary Wing branch. Charles Lindbergh and most helicopter pioneers, including Bell and Sikorsky, were acquaintances. Keith was assigned to Headquarters 5th Air Force in Nagoya, Japan, in 1947, as an Air Inspector for the Inspector General. He and his team covered bases in Japan and Korea. He then was assigned to the Pentagon as US Air Force Directorate of Research and Development. Later, as Branch Chief of the Cargo and Trainer Branch of SAC, he maintained engineering oversight of all Air Force aircraft in selected categories. In 1957, he traveled around the world in 20 days, surveying cargo handling equipment at MATS bases. In 1958, Keith reported to the Directorate of Flight Safety in the Inspector Generals office on Norton Air Force Base, San Bernardino, California. There, he was awarded a second Legion of Merit. After 23 years of service, he joined Lockheed in Marietta, Georgia, where he was Division Engineer for the Reliability and Flight Safety Division, for the C-141 cargo plane and C-5A programs. Keith was a member of First United Methodist Church and the Epworth Class in Americus. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to a charity of ones choice. To sign our online guestbook and express your condolences to the family, please visit hancockfuneralhomeinc Hancock Funeral Home, 427 S. Lee St., is honored to be entrusted with these arrangements for Col. Keith S. Wilson.
Posted on: Tue, 17 Jun 2014 19:58:32 +0000
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