02/25/2008

Dale G. Wilson

February 24, 2008

OFDA received word this afternoon that Dale G. Wilson, 85, of Ripley, Ohio died Sunday, February 24, 2008. He was born in Brown County, Ohio on July 13, 1922 the son of the late Earl and Mabel (Howland) Wilson.

Dale was a World War Two Army Medic and served in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany. After the war he completed his funeral director's apprenticeship at the Adams Funeral Home in Akron, OH. Upon graduation from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, he was employed for a short time in Beaver Falls, PA before returning to Ripley to join his uncle, Bob Kirkpatrick, in his funeral home. He then spent one year at the Hook Funeral Home in Washington Court House before returning again to his homewtown of Ripley to join the firm of Trapp & Gardner Funeral Home and Furniture store. In 1950 it became the Trapp & Wilson Funeral Home until it was sold to Cahall Funeral Homes in 1990. Dale was active in funeral service for sixty years until his death.

One of Dale's greatest achievements was his involvement in establishing the Ohio Valley Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center just north of Ripley. Plans for the project were started in 1969 with the facility opening in three phases - 1971, 1975 and 1995. Dale was a kind and compassionate Christian man who touched the lives of all who were privileged to know him. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Russell and Jim Wilson and one sister, Caryl Campbell.

Mr. Wilson is survived by his wife of sixty-four years - Anne Marie (Haskew) Wilson. Two daughters, Pam Baldridge and husband Larry and Janet Workman and husband Randy; tow sons, Tim Wilson and wife Cindy and Jeff Wilson; nine grandchildren - Stephanie Woods and husband Chris, Larry Baldridge and wife Jennie, Luke Workman , Timmy Wilson and wife Johnna and Suzanne Wilson, Daniel, Brittany, James and Kaya Wilson; six great grandchildren, Braden and Hannah Woods, Harley, Jesse, Avery and Madeline Wilson and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Thursday, February 28, 2008 at the Ripley Church of Christ. Visitation will be from 4:00 - 9:00 P.M. Wednesday at the Cahall Funeral Home in Ripley, Ohio. Interment will be in the Maplewood Cemetery in Ripley.

If desired, memorials may be made to the Ripley Church of Christ Building Fund, 105 N. Third Street, Ripley, Ohio 45167 or to the Ohio Valley Manor Activities Department, 5280 US 68, Ripley, Ohio 45167.

Condolences may be sent to the family at Wilsonfamily@Cahallfuneralhomes.com