Fred P. Wilson's Obituary
Fred P. Wilson, Sr., retired attorney, died peacefully on July 31, 2014 at the age of 91. Mr. Wilson was born in 1922 in Amory, Mississippi, and was the son of Jesse Clarence Wilson and Leta Belle Palmer Wilson. He was a graduate of Memphis Technical High School, and served as President of the Senior Class in 1940. He entered Memphis State College in 1940 and was elected the “Typical Ed” in 1942. He was active in numerous school activities and was elected a member of Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. He served as President of Phi Alpha Delta (now Pi Kappa Alpha) fraternity. Mr. Wilson throughout his life was an avid supporter of the University of Memphis football and basketball teams. His education at Memphis State College was interrupted by World War II. After graduating from Midshipmen’s School at Columbia University, he entered the Pacific Theater, where he served as the Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of an amphibious vessel in the South Pacific, participating in the liberation of the Philippine Islands. After serving in China he returned to Memphis in 1946 and re-entered Memphis State College, graduating in 1947. He graduated from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1950. Mr. Wilson practiced law in Memphis for 54 years, before retiring as senior partner in the law firm of Wilson, McRae, Ivy, Sevier, McTyier and Strain. During the course of his long career, he tried scores of jury trials in Circuit Court of Shelby County, and mentored many attorneys who have distinguished themselves in their legal careers. Mr. Wilson was a member of the Memphis and Shelby County Bar Association where he served on the Board of Directors and as chairman of several committees. He was a member of the Tennessee and American Bar Associations, the Federation of Insurance Counsel, and the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association. He was also a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the Tennessee Bar Foundation. Mr. Wilson had been an active member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church since 1952, serving as a college class counselor and on the Administrative Board and the Board of Trustees. He is the widower of Helen Jean Carter Wilson. He leaves a brother, Dr. Robert E. Wilson, two sons, Dr. Fred P. Wilson, Jr.,(Carrie Dowling) and Stuart A. Wilson, one granddaughter, Angela Wilson, and his dear friend, Gail Thompson. The family will receive friends from 3-6 p.m. on Sunday, August 3 and a funeral service will be at 2:30 on Monday, August 4 all at Memorial Park Funeral Home. The family requests that any memorials be sent to St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 38119, ” Behind the Stone Wall”.
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