Norman “Willie” Elmer Wilson Jr., 85, of Mooresville, N.C., passed away on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at his residence.
Mr. Wilson was born on March 26, 1939, in Mooresville to the late Norman Elmer Wilson Sr. and Nellie Davidson Wilson. Norman was a Mooresville High School graduate, Class of 1957, and then joined the United States Air Force, serving from October 1957 to November 1968 and the Air National Guard from May 1971 to December 1986, from where he retired as a MSGT. Mr. Wilson earned many awards during his service, including the Air Force Longevity Service Award with five clusters, Air Reserves Forces Meritorious Service Medal with three clusters, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Gallent Unit Citation with two clusters, Air Force Command Medal, NC Commendation Medal, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with Bronze Leaf, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force NCO Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon, and the NC Service Ribbon with Props and Wings. He then worked for the Mooresville Graded School District from 1987 until 1999 until his retirement. Norman will be remembered for his devotion to the Civitans in which he was a lifelong member, joining in 1977. He served as the district governor from 1990-1991. Norman received numerous awards from the Civitans, which include the Civitan Fellow, Civitan of the Year, Civitan Family of the Year and the Francis Essic Civitan of the Decade Award. He was a long-time member of Broad Street Church of Mooresville. Norman enjoyed serving as a Mooresville High School Football statistician from 1989 – 2016, and watching his Carolina Tar Heels. He loved golf, putting together puzzles, watching history on TV, and puzzles.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandson, Brice Rummage; daughter-in-law, Kym Smith Wilson; and one sister, Phyllis Wilson Sipley.
Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife and high school sweetheart for 67 years, Sharon Parker Wilson, whom he married on February 8, 1958, son; Larry Wilson; daughters, Cindy Crone and husband John, and Amy Edwards and husband Mark; brother; George Wilson and wife Karen; grandchildren, Erin Maynard and husband Scott, Kelly Dye, Kimberly Huntley and husband Trey, Julie Watson and husband Michael, and Kara Speice and husband Nolan; great grandchildren, Laurel Dye, Noah Maynard, Hudson Dye, Ronan Dye, Leila Watson, Logan Huntley, Ivy Speice, and Sage Watson.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at 3 p.m. at Broad Street Church of Mooresville with the Rev. Gary Sowell and Pastor George Wilson officiating. Interment will follow at Glenwood Memorial Park, Mooresville.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service from 2 to 3 p.m. at Broad Street Church of Mooresville.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorial contribution to be made to Broad Street Church of Mooresville, honoring Normans’ commitment to his faith and community.
Cavin-Cook Funeral Home, Mooresville, is serving the family.