Mr. Don Wilson

Don Richard Wilson was born September 30, 1937, in Aurora, MO. Don was the first of three children born to Darrel Lee Wilson and Frances Willene Cline of Lake Quivira, KS. Don's father was a golf pro at Victory Hills and Dub's Dred, and Don and his sisters grew up with golfing in their blood. When Don attended the University of Kansas, he did so as the recipient of the university's first-ever golf scholarship. He followed college with duty in the United States Marine Corps and was honorably discharged in 1965. Don had a long, 36-year career with Universal Underwriters of Kansas City. He held several positions with the company that took him to San Francisco, CA; Portland, OR; and Columbus, OH. His last position was in sales in the K.C. home office when he retired in 1995. Along the way, he found time to pursue two of his other passions, politics and flying. He earned his private pilot's license in 1981 and made a run for the Liberty city council in 1989. Less a passion and more a love, Don enjoyed playing Santa Claus for area children for the sole reason of bringing more joy to the season. Don will be remembered as a very strong and compassionate man.

The last ten years of his life, he and his family battled through his Alzheimer's, a battle which he lost on December 13th, 2006. Don was preceded in death by his parents; an infant daughter; a sister, Linda; and a grandson, Michael. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis, of Austin, TX; two sons from a previous marriage, Scott and Greg, both of Kansas City; a sister, Diane, of Austin, TX; two grandchildren, Courtney and Steven, one great-grandson, Brandon; a niece; a nephew; and five grandnieces and grandnephews.

---