Charles Boyd (Bud) Wilson Jr., 94, of Kingwood passed away in Mon Health Medical Center, Morgantown, May 23, 2021, with loving family at his side.
He was born Feb. 12, 1927, in Fairmont, the eldest son of the late Charles Boyd Wilson Sr. and Katherine Victoria Salabor. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Vera Lee Carallino, in April 2008; and his brother, Carl Francis Wilson, of Richmond, Va., in June 2015. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Bud graduated from Rivesville High School Class of 1945 and enlisted in the United States Navy that summer. Upon completion of boot camp, he was sent to engineering school in Great Lakes, Ill., for a 16 week training course on propulsion systems, primarily those of newer class destroyers. His first duty station was a newly commissioned Gearing class destroyer, USS Fechteler DD870. He later served on USS Conway DD507, USS Blue DD744 and USS Bausell DD845. He was on active duty from 1945-1951 and attained the rating of machinist mate first class. He was transferred to reserve status in August 1951 and was honorably discharged from the naval service in August 1953.
During his service, he was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, American Defense Medal, Good Conduct Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific, Japanese Occupation, China Service and Korean Service Medals. Also, a medal from the South Korean government to all who served in their defense during the Korean conflict was awarded. Service in the Korean theater was aboard USS Conway DD507.
Following his military service, Bud started work in August 1951 at what was then Monongahela Power Company’s Rivesville Power Station as a boiler room helper. He transferred to Albright Power Station in June 1952 where he remained for the remainder of his career, retiring in January 1989 as an operations shift supervisor.
He and his wife, Armeda, moved to Kingwood, in the fall of 1952. He joined the Kingwood Volunteer Fire Department in 1953 where he served as a firefighter for several years, attended various schools and training sessions and held positions such as visitation chairman and Fireman’s Day chairman. Not to mention that he worked in the Buckwheat Festival Hot Dog Stand for 40 years. Later, he served with his wife as a ticket seller at the Community Building and Information Building during the Buckwheat Festival until 2012.
Bud joined Wesley United Methodist Church in April 1954, serving on several boards including the Board of Trustees. He also assisted in church property maintenance, was assistant scoutmaster to church-sponsored Boy Scout Troop 81 in the late 1950s and acted as head usher for several years.
He was a Literacy Volunteer, a life member of Kingwood George D. Butler VFW Post 826, and Tin Can Sailors Association, which is a Navy veterans’ group that served in USN Destroyers. Writing articles detailing his naval experiences gave him satisfaction. As a younger man, he was a hunter, fisherman and camper. He loved spending time with his grandson and vacationing on the Outer Banks. Later, Bud became interested in genealogy, researching his and his wife’s family extensively. Weather observation and reporting was faithfully completed for several years. He was an avid reader and maintained correspondence with friends and former shipmates.
He is survived by his wife, Armeda, of 70 years; a daughter, Debra K. Dodge (L. Kevin), of Kingwood; a grandson, Kevin Dodge (Cate), of Lansdale, Pa.; along with three great-grandchildren, Logan, Carissa and Cassidy Dodge.
Friends will be received at the Rotruck-Lobb Kingwood Chapel, 295 South Price St., from 3-7 p.m., Wednesday, May 26, and from noon, Thursday, May 27, until the time of the funeral service at 1 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Jonathan Nettles officiating and military honors will be accorded. Entombment will be in Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens, Morgantown. Masks are optional.
Condolences:
www.rotruck-lobb.com
