Wardell Wilson

Obituary Wardell Wilson was born in 1923, in Okmulgee, Oklahoma to the union of Armous and Corillis Wilson. He was the fourth of ten children. Wardell departed this life on Wednesday, March 21, 2018. He was preceded in death by his wife of sixty-three years, Tommie Wilson, his parents, Luther Armous and Corillis Wilson, brothers, Nathaniel, Lester B., Varnell, Curtis, Freddy Lee, Otis, Luther, and infant, Armous, Jr., granddaughter, Angela Wilson, brother-in-law, James W. Love, Sr., and nephews, James W. Love, Jr., and Contillar “Connie” Love. Wardell was educated at Northwest School in Okmulgee, where he completed the eighth grade. He accepted Christ at an early age and attended Northwest Baptist Church. Wardell met the love of his life, Tommie Leatrice Washington, in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. They moved to Kansas City, Missouri, and were united in marriage on November 27, 1943. He was the first child to leave Okmulgee and move to the Kansas City area. In 1963, Wardell and Tommie joined Paseo Baptist Church. Wardell attended Sunday School, and faithfully served in many capacities at the church until his health failed. Wardell grew up on a farm. It was there that he got his nickname, “Bucket”. His duties included carrying the buckets of water, from the river or well, to the family house. This was hard, grueling work considering the size of the family and the distance involved. He made a lot of trips. This also taught him the value of hard work. He was a very hard-working man. Wardell worked in construction when he first arrived in Kansas City. He was part of a crew that built many roads and bridges in central Kansas City; and Wardell also worked for a foundry, casting iron molds. Always looking to improve things for his family and himself, Wardell worked as a Porter for Holiday Inn at the Downtown Kansas City Airport, where he handled the bags for the business and entertainment customers that came to the Kansas City area. He met several “colorful” characters that stayed at the hotel. Wardell was an entrepreneur and developed a side business as a personal Driver for visitors that he met at the hotel. When Kansas City opened the new airport in 1974, there were no hotels nearby. Wardell became one of the people that would drive the van for airport pickups. During this time, he also cleaned office buildings to supplement his income and give his family a chance to experience opportunities to grow. In 1978, he was able to leave Holiday Inn and join the then Bendix Corporation (later Allied Signal). He became an Electronics Assembly Operator. This job not only enabled him to make many new and long-lasting friendships, but while there, he became a member of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. He stayed at Bendix until retirement in 1990, and he also received his thirty-year Membership Certificate and Pin from the union in April 2008. Wardell was very hands-on and loved to do things outdoors. He was a self-taught Carpenter. He made many modifications to his house, including a room addition. He loved to garden, cut grass, plant trees and flowers, rake leaves, and generally keep a good-looking house. He loved to fish and spent many hours fishing with his sons. Baseball was his favorite sport, but he also loved football. He used to walk to baseball and football games with his sons when the A’s and Chiefs played at Municipal Stadium. After the A’s left town and the Royals were formed, he became one of their biggest fans. He celebrated the World Series opportunities and suffered through the 100 loss seasons, but every Spring was a new opportunity to enjoy the team. He also taught his sons baseball and coached some of their little league teams. Wardell also loved to walk five times per week. He walked at the Palestine Activity Center, where he developed many friendships. Wardell Wilson leaves to love and cherish his memory, sons, Lawrence W. Love (Velda) of Jackson, Tennessee and Louis W. Wilson of Kansas City, Missouri; a brother, Carmon (Juanita) of Okmulgee, Oklahoma; grandchildren: Ashley C. Adams (Marshane) of San Lorenzo, California, Lauren Comer (Brandon) of Buford, Georgia, Brian Haygood, Sr. (Tina) of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, DeShyra McKinney of Jackson, Tennessee and Jordan McKinney of Jackson, Tennessee; great-grandchildren: Arden Comer, Christian Comer, Taylor Haygood, Brian Haygood, Jr., Harlem Williams and Imani Adams; sister-in-law, Wilma Wilson; niece, Dorothy Richardson; nephews, Clifford Ross and Donnie Ray Richardson; special daughters-in-law: Cheryl D. Wilson, Leota Marks and Linda Love; Goddaughter, Mary L. Martin-McCree; numerous nieces and nephews; Paseo Baptist Church family; Allied-Signal family; Palestine Activity Center Family and Staff; Lawrence A. Jones Family and Staff; and a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral Service for Wardell Wilson will be held Tuesday, March 27, 10:00 a.m. at the Lawrence A. Jones and Sons Funeral Chapel, 1800 E. Linwood Blvd. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. at the Chapel. Interment, Forest Hill Cemetery. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Wardell Wilson, please visit our floral store. Read More

Wardell Wilson

August 31, 1923 - March 21, 2018