Obituary of Carl Fletcher Wilson

Carl Fletcher Wilson of Endicott, NY formerly of Hubbard Lake, MI On Tuesday, April 21, 2009, after a battle with cancer, Dad joined our Mom, Maria "Vickie" (2007), and our brother, Keith (1997), in Heaven. On June 3, 1933, Dad was born, an only child, in Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada to the best grandparents we grandkids could ask for, Charles and Marion Wilson. Dad spent his childhood days playing basketball, ice skating and tending to the cows on the family farm. After school, he joined the Royal Canadian Navy and served aboard the Navy Destroyer HMCS Huron (DD-216), CO. During his 10-year enlistment serving his country, Dad worked as a Petty Officer First Class Electrician and played Center on the Navy basketball team. While traveling the world defending his country from the Red Aggressor during the Korean War, Dad met the love of his life and married her, Maria Vittoria Valeriote, on June 18, 1955. Again, we were blessed with another set of awesome grandparents, Vincenzo and Annunciata Valeriote, and Dad got the siblings he had longed for: Tony and Esther Valeriote of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, Dominic and Evelyn Valeriote of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, Joe and Norma Valeriote of Guelph, Ontario, Canada and Jerry and Fran Valeriote of Southampton, Ontario, Canada. Mom and Dad started their family right away: Wayne and Shelly (Attwell) of Endicott, NY and grandkids Jennifer, Michael and Steven, Janice of Grand Rapids, MI and grandkids Christopher and Danielle Arganbright, Keith and Amy (Robarge) of Hubbard Lake, MI and grandkids Danielle, Nicholas and Zechariah, Marianne and Richard Thompson of Endicott, NY and grandkids Wesley and Alec, and Carl and Laura (Willenborg) of Saginaw, MI and grandkids Elijah, Noah and Annika. After serving in the Navy, Mom and Dad moved their family to America where they started successful businesses, Carl's Restaurant and, later, a contracting business, Wilson and Son Builders in Hubbard Lake, MI. Continuing to follow the American Dream, we all became US Citizens in 1974. Mom and Dad taught us valuable life lessons and bestowed on us a strong Catholic faith. After retiring to Endicott, Dad took up bicycle riding and spent many days enjoying 20 mile adventures. We are confident that Dad has his tool belt hooked around his hips. He's eating a piece of mom's famous pie (probably lemon meringue), studying blue prints with Keith, riding his bicycle and enjoying some warm heavenly sunshine. We miss you, Dad, and we'll love you forever. Funeral services will be held at St. Catherine's Church in Ossineke, Michigan on Saturday, April 25, at 1:00 p.m. Donations may be made in Dad's memory to Our Lady of Good Council, CYO Basketball, 701 W. Main St., Endicott, NY 13760 or Foundation for Cancer Survivors, Lourdes Oncology, 30 Harrison St., Johnson City, NY 13790.