Robert (Bob) Emil Wilson was born on January 9, 1930 in Queens New York to Ted and Carol Wilson He was the beloved Grandson to Emil and Elly Podzus, whom he adored and always spoke of with the highest regard. Emil, a Lutheran minister was a strong force in his foundation for a love of God. Elly taught him to always be kind. His parents and grandparents in their own unique way raised him to be strong, full of wonder and bestowed upon him a sense of humor that carried him all through life. He was a gentleman who ALWAYS walked tall.

He was married for 64 years to the love of his life Ruth Woodard, the beautiful farmers' daughter from Johnston County, NC and Air Force WAF he met in Newburgh, New York. When Ruth brought Bob home to meet her parents Joseph and Ida Woodard, Ida told her daughter that Bob was "pure pretty"! Together with Ruth he traveled through life never ceasing in his thirst for knowledge, traveling, attending classes and walking everywhere they could and at every chance. They loved Iroquois Hill in Louisville KY, their European sojourns, the beaches of Cape Canaveral, Florida and the old dirt roads of Kenly, NC - all were some of their fondest paths trodden.

Bob was a medic and Pharmacist in the Air Force for 23 years. He was stationed stateside and overseas in Europe - England, Germany, France - Turkey and in Greenland.
He was ever the learner and obtained many credentials among them a B.A. and an M.S. from Bob Jones University.
In later years he felt the call and went into Christian Education, loving the students he taught and often voted Best Teacher by his students as he made learning exciting.
He was known as "Peanut Butter" Bob to his friends in Florida. He had joined a food co-op and asked for the hardest job they had which was stirring the huge buckets of natural peanut butter.
In later years he would often spoil his friends with candy and cookies and help anyone he felt needed a hand, including the little homeless animals that didn't have food.
He loved sharing his knowledge of the civil war and books that he loved. He believed in supporting the missionaries because he said that God always supplied all his needs, even in the hardest time Jehovah Jireh never left him and things would always work out.

He is survived by his wife Ruth, his daughter Rachel, his adoring Grand-daughter Eden - the Grand Duchess as he loved to call her, his Grandsons Josh & Matt (whom he was very proud of and saw a lot of himself in their personalities and would tell them now to BE STRONG), Patrick Wallace, Clinton, Tristan, Remington, his daughter Elizabeth and her children, Cierra, Taryn, Aaron, Ryan, Xander. He also had 10 beautiful Great-Grand Children. He prayed for God's providence to protect his Grandchildren and to raise them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. He often recalled his Grandfather Podzsus quoting one of his ancestors as saying, "The prayers of our forefathers protect us like walls of stone."

He is also survived by another "love of his life" his sister Elaine Caruso - he adored his younger sister Elaine and was ever proud of the fact that he was her Big Brother, his sister-in-law Jean, his brother Teddy Wilson and his wife Gloria - he in later years fondly recalled his younger brother Teddy and him having great fun playing pranks on each other and spending time in the "canyons" of New York.
He is survived by his many nieces and nephews. He loved to be "Uncle Bob" to all his nieces and nephews, never a dull moment with Uncle Bob, he was pure fun to all the "kid-a-roonies".

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, his best friend Clark Brehnan, his beloved brother-in law(s) Matt Caruso, Mavon Woodard, Joe Woodard and his beloved sister-in-law(s) Irene, Lucille, Gertrude, Reva, Grace, Eula May and his beloved cat and adopted daughter Sprudel, a cat that only Bob could love - she had him at the first scratch.
Bob had a wonderful life and when he was down his wife Ruth would remind him, "We had our day!" and he recalled she was right, a life well lived.
Even in his old age he was still the consummate Boy Scout, always prepared.
In the last days of his life, he wanted his family to know how much he loved all of us and that no matter what we were family. He found great peace in looking at photos of his Niece Laura's son Max Matthew - the sweet babe gave him hope.
His greatest sadness was to see all those whom he loved pass before him, but now Bob - this beautiful gift to us all, has his wings and his noble heart is still surrounding us, one breath away... still here... the other side of a beautiful veil... until Shiloh come.

Services will be held 2:00PM on Thursday January 12th at Western Carolina State Veteran’s Cemetery.

~ I love you daddy and I will love you forever. Thank you for being strong for me and loving my children as your own. Thank you for loving me unconditionally. I told you before and I tell you now, you are my HERO. Missing You, PB