Gilbert E. Wilson

Gilbert Edwin Wilson was born on June 10, 1914, to James and Ella Wilson, Girard, Ohio, and was baptized in the Presbyterian Church of Girard, of which his parents were charter members. His parents and two brothers, Melvin and Clifford, and wife Mary Ruth preceded him in death.
His education consisted of 12 years of public school in Girard, Ohio; a Bachelor of Science Degree from Southeast Missouri State University at Cape Girardeau, Missouri; a Master of Music Degree from VanderCook College in Chicago, Illinois; and a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. Additional study was done at the University of South Dakota at Vermillion, Chicago Musical College, and the Eastman School of Music at Rochester, New York.
His experience included owning and operating a dance band during the Big Band Era, serving as elementary school principal, teaching history and social studies, directing band and vocal groups in the public schools of Blodgett, MO; Cobden, IL; Alcoa, TENN; Gilman, IL; directing college musical groups and teaching Knox-Galesburg Symphony Orchestra; teaching and serving as Director of Musical Activities at Peru State College, serving as medical corpsman and musician at the Great Lakes Naval Base, and Hunter College in New York City during World War II.
He was united in marriage with Mary Ruth Coy on May 22, 1938, at Sheffield , Alabama. To this union three children were born: Mary Ellen Goldberg of Lincoln, NE; James Wilson of Omaha, NE; and Janet Grush of Walnut, IA.
In 1949, Gilbert received the State of Illinois Veterans of Foreign Wars merit award for his work with youth. He was a charter member of the Nebraska Bandmasters Association, a member of Nebraska Music Educators, member of Peru Community Church, Peru Chamber of Commerce, of which he served as president for several years, Kiwanis, the American Legion and Peru Masonic Lodge. He was appointed an Admiral in the Nebraska Navy by Gov. Bob Kerry. He was also honored in receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award from VanderCook College in 1968. In 1955, he was one of 22 symphony conductors from across the nation selected by the American Symphony Orchestra League to attend a conductors symposium with the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Eugene Ormandy. Through out his career he had three books published.
Due to failing health, Gilbert passed away on Saturday, August 7, 2004 having reached the age of 90 years, 1 month and 28 days, leaving his 3 children and spouses, 7 grandchildren and spouses, and 8 great-grandchildren, nieces Sonya Walch and family of Akron, Ohio and nephew Robert Murphey and family of Davis, California.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gilbert E. Wilson, please visit our floral store.