Merle J. Wilson, 71, of Falconer, passed away Sa-turday (Sept, 8, 2012), in Heritage Park Rehab & Skilled Nursing Center.
He was born March 9, 1941, on the farm in Mound Ridge, Kan., the son of the late Levi and Edith Nelson Wilson.
Merle was a U.S. Air Force veteran serving in Germany and North Africa, from 1963 to 1967. After his separation from the Air Force he worked for Cessna & Beech Craft.
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Over his lifetime, Merle has been a pilot, depart-ment manager, business owner, tech and mechanic. He had been active in the Falconer Moose serving in office, while the Moosettes were active, he was their frequent drill instructor, Merle also was an active member in the Henry Mosher Post.
Merle is survived by his wife, Constance (Cochran) Wilson, whom he married Oct. 1, 1971, in Broken Ar-row, Okla.; two daughters: Edith (Todd) Parker of Ran-dolph, and Brenda (Philip) Sharp of Mena, Ark.: six grandchildren: Amanda (Greg) Bauch, Carol Anne (Jason) Breightbarth, Justin William Higbee, Jordan Timothy Higbee and Gra-cin Michael Parker: two great-grandchildren: Justin Thomas Doud and Emille Sue Breightbarth: a brother Albert (Roberta) Wilson of Kansas: sisters: Luxie Gar-rettson of Kansas, Arliss (Earl) Fish of Kansas, Debra Finney of Kentucky.
Besides his parents, Merle is preceded in death by his grandson, Peter James Iber; a brother, Terry Wilson; a sister-in-law, Pa-tricia Cochran; and two brothers-in-law: John Christianson Sr. and James Garrettson.
The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Fal-coner Funeral Home, where the Rev. Joe Pascoe of Lit-tle Valley United Metho-dist Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Pine Hill Cemetery.
Friends will be received by the family one hour pri-or to the service.