Ronald Wilson

Ronald R. "Ron" Wilson, age 66 of Melrose, died on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 after a short battle with cancer at Pine Villa Care Center in Melrose.

Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 17 at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose with Pastor Allen Travaille officiating. Inurnment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Melrose with military honors by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard.

Friends may call from 2 to 3 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home in Melrose.

Ronald Wilson was born November 16, 1940 in Osage, MN. He was a son of the late J.R. "Dick" and Elsie (Hopper) Wilson. He made his profession of faith, was baptized and became a member of the Osage Baptist Church. In later years, he attended the Reynolds Baptist Church of Long Prairie. Ron graduated from Park Rapids High School. He served in the U.S. Army from 1961 to 1963. Ron worked at his dad's lumber yard and for Bell Telephone. He worked in Alaska doing telephone work until he retired in 1995. After retirement, he continued doing telephone work. He married Vicky Graves on May 25, 1993 in Long Prairie. Ron enjoyed golf, horse shoes, golf game, shooting pool, hunting, fishing, building and flying remote control airplanes, as well as camping, cooking over an open fire and creating new recipes. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.

Survivors include his wife, Vicky (Graves) Wilson of Melrose; step children, Kevin (Mary Kay) Graves of Grey Eagle, Philip Graves of Grey Eagle, and Becky (Donny) Hiltner of Melrose; eight step grandchildren, Travis, Trent, and Trisha Graves, Olivia, Taylor, and Gabby Graves, Ryan and Eric Hiltner; sister, Virginia Larson of Minneapolis; brother, Norman (Phyllis) Wilson of Park Rapids; many nieces and nephews; daughter, Marcy; and son, Heath.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Cliff and his wife, Inez; sisters, Audrey and Sandy; and niece, Roxanne.

Serving as urn bearer will be Bruce Wilson. Serving as honorary bearers will be the nieces, nephews, step children, and step grandchildren.