Orvil Doward Wilson

We are sad to announce the passing of Orvil Doward Wilson. He died at home in his sleep in the early hours of May 16 at the age of 74. He accepted Jesus as his Savior in the early 1990s, so we find comfort in knowing he is currently enjoying heaven and at peace.

Orvil, also called OD or Doward, spent the first years of adulthood in the US Army fighting for the freedom of our allies in Vietnam. Serving his country meant so much to Orvil that he rushed to enlist as soon as he was of legal age, even going to fight alongside his fellow soldiers with an enlarged heart that would typically disqualify one for enlistment.

Orvil later worked as a Correctional Officer for the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla. He medically retired in 2004 after two open heart surgeries. Medical professionals gave him an estimate of less than five years of life after the bypass surgeries; Orvil’s survivalistic nature and love of life allowed him to live past the predicted years so he could greet his grandchildren and first great-grandchild.

When he was not watching Westerns and military shows or reading his vast library of books (especially the complete works of Louis L’Amour), Orvil was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed site-seeing, mushroom hunting, picking huckleberries, fishing, big and small game hunting, shooting, and camping. These activities were shared with his family, instilling a legacy of personal survival skills and a love of nature in his descendants.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Orvil Woodrow and Phara, and his brother, Roy. Orvil is survived by his wife of 50 years (Gloria); five children (John, Zamora, Mary, Jami, and Michael); fourteen grandchildren (Dylan, Daphne, Derek, Lance, Daniel, Andrew, Elijah, Elizabeth, Diane, Isaiah, Aiden, Joshuah, Josiah, and Hannah); and one great-grandchild (Michelle).

His immediate family had a private viewing on May 18. Orvil will be interred at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home. Friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.