Walter Forest Wilson, age 86 of Marble Falls, Arkansas passed away Sunday, May 6, 2012 at North Arkansas Regional Medical Center in Harrison, Arkansas.

The son of James Benjamin Wilson and Nina (Howerton) Wilson was born December 19, 1925 in Harrison. Walter was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene.

Walter was born on Crooked Creek south of Harrison, Arkansas. His family lived there for 5 years and moved to Long Dale, OK. He was drafted into the military when he was 18 years old (1944). He served aboard the NTS, the Farragut, the Idaho, and his final assignment was on the USS Revenge (AM-110). He received the Victory Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (3 Stars), and the Philippine Liberation Campaign Ribbon (2 Stars). After leaving the U.S. Navy, he moved to Perry, OK in 1946 and married Florence L. Kucera on Nov. 29, 1949. From 1950 to 1957, they lived in Olney, TX. In 1957 they moved back to Perry. He served for 25 years as a Fireman, Assistant Fire Chief and retired as the Acting Fire Chief for the Perry Fire Department. Walter was a skilled craftsman working throughout the community. He was also an avid hunter and fisherman all of which helped support his family. After retiring they settled in Marble Falls, AR and have lived there to date.

Walter was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Sandra Andersen; a grandson, Joshua Ryan Wilson; two sisters, Mary Drebenstedt and Mildred Luthye; and four brothers, Carl, Wilbur, James, and L.C. Wilson.

Survivors are his wife of 62 years, Florence (Kucera) Wilson of the home; his children, Karen Douglass and husband Terry of Canon City, Colorado, W. Allen Wilson and wife Glinda of Marble Falls, Rita Scramlin and husband Gary of Marble Falls, Sherry McAllister of Kingston, Arkansas, Cletus Wilson and wife Vivian of Marble Falls, Joy Hatchett and husband Todd of Perry, Oklahoma, Joniece LeValley and husband Fred of Blackwell, Oklahoma, and Janita Stavroplus and husband Nick of McGregor, Iowa. Other survivors are his son-in-law, Ron Andersen of Wichita, Kansas; brother, Elsworth Wilson of Marble Falls; 27 grandchildren; 2 step-grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and 8 step-great-grandchildren; and a host of other family and friends.

Local visitation was Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at Coffman Funeral Home Chapel in Harrison. Service was Wednesday, May 9, 2012 also at Coffman Funeral Home Chapel in Harrison.

There was also a visitation Thursday, May 10, 2012 at Brown-Dugger Funeral Home in Perry, Oklahoma. Funeral Service there was Friday, May 11, 2012 at the First Church of the Nazarene in Perry.

Rev. Sam Boyd officiated.

Burial followed in Grace Hill Cemetery in Perry, Oklahoma with pallbearers being Adam Wilson, Wesley Wilson, Ty Hatchett, Samuel McAllister, Bradley Douglass, John Stavroplus, and Jeff Gatrost.

Honorary pallbearers were Austin Bright, Danny Schaffer, David Hatfield, Joel Norman, Robert White, and Zach Moses.

Online condolences may be left at www.coffmanfh.com.