Forrester Lowrey Page and Van Petten Families

Donald John Wilson died February 28, 2011, at the Council Grove Healthcare Center, Council Grove, Kansas, at age 95. Donald and Frances Scott Wilson celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary at the HealthCare Center with family and friends on Sunday, February 27, 2011. They were married February 26, 1939, at the Christian Church Parsonage at Hartford, Kansas. He was born March 15, 1915, in rural Morris County to John Samuel Wilson and Olia Alice Nott Wilson. He lived his entire life in Morris County and attended elementary school at Garfield District 6. Donald graduated from Alta Vista High School, Alta Vista, Kansas, in 1934. Donald accepted Christ as his Savior at age 7 and was a life-long member of Pleasant Ridge Christian Church where he served as elder and adult Sunday School teacher for many years. Attending Sunday School and church at Pleasant Ridge was the highlight of his week. The day before he died he said, “I wish I could have gone to Sunday School today.” He was a farmer, dairyman and businessman. Donald loved horse-drawn equipment and participated in many area parades and festivals with his team of oxen, horse-drawn surrey, buckboards, hotel hack, and other entries. Donald and Frances provided three horse-drawn carriages for the Mary White documentary and appeared as extras driving one of the carriages. The covered wagon that sits by the Neosho River Bridge in Council Grove, Kansas, was the wagon Donald used on a Santa Fe Trail ride in 1979. His son Donald and three grandsons accompanied him on the trail ride. Five children were born to the couple. The oldest son, Russell Scott Wilson, drowned in a farm pond on July 7, 1957. The four remaining children are Jerry L. Wilson & wife Jean of Alta Vista, KS, Karen Andrews & husband Roy of Emporia, KS, Howard Wilson & wife Joann of Manhattan, KS, and Donald Wilson, Jr. & wife Sue of Phoenix, AZ; 12 grandchildren: Jolene Rupe, Julie Miller, Crystal Manes, Justin Moxley, Rhonda Womack, Paul Wilson, Greg Wilson, Jerilyn Shepard, Kelli Renner, Renita Alberto, Desiree Dizon and Kristi Reed; and 30 great-grandchildren. Donald was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Leslie Wilson, as well as his son Russell. The family will receive friends Thursday, March 3, 2011, from 6-8 PM at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home, Council Grove, KS. A private family burial service will be held at Greenwood Cemetery prior to the Celebration Service. This service for family and friends will be held Friday, March 3, 2011, at 2 PM at the Council Grove Christian Church. Memorial contributions may be made to Pleasant Ridge Christian Church or Manhattan Christian College and may be sent in care of Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home, PO Box 273, Council Grove, KS 66846.