It’s with profound sadness we announce the passing of Phil Wilson on June 26, 2024. Phil was born in Oklahoma City and moved with his family to Onalaska, Washington, in the early 1950s. Phil graduated from Onalaska High School in 1966.
Phil had a long and varied work history starting in a lumber mill in Kosmos, Washington. His next job was at Eubanks Glass in Centralia, Washington, then Erickson Glass in Longview, Washington. Following that, and always being a self-proclaimed “car nut,” he and his friend opened Custom Coach Works.
He eventually joined the sheet metal workers union, beginning his sheet metal career at the Satsop Nuclear site. He also worked at Pryde Bros. in Aberdeen, Washington, and Smith and Losli, in Aberdeen, finishing his work career at Hanford Nuclear Plant with retirement in 2009.
Phil was preceded in death by his parents, Willie and Maureen Wilson, and brother Kenneth Wilson. He is survived by his wife, Jeanne Wilson; sister, Cheri Wilson VanDell of Portland; son, Jason (Darcy) Wilson of Adna; daughter, Heather Wilson; stepdaughter Jennifer LeTourneau of Portland, Oregon; grandchildren, Shania Wilson of Chehalis and Cole Wilson of Adna, and Sylvie Glass and Seth Glass of Portland, Oregon; and his great-grandson, Tyson Wilson of Chehalis. Phil is also survived by two nephews, Kyle Wilson, Whidbey Island, Washington, and Kris Wilson of Oakland, California.
Phil was a man with many talents and interests with cars toward the top of his list. Carpenter, fabricator, biker, hunter, fisherman, farmer, he could successfully accomplish just about anything. And do it well. Give him a cold beer and a conversation with a friend about cars (mostly Chevys), and he was in his happy place. He had a great appreciation for friends and family. Hunting and fishing were in his DNA; he would have lived well making the outdoors his home. Trips on his Harley motorcycle with friends were noteworthy, often epic. Phil’s life was not nearly long enough as he had many more miles to go. Cancer sucks.
Please join us to celebrate a life well-lived for William Phil Wilson at 1:30 p.m., July 18, at the Jester Car Museum, 321 Hamilton Road, Chehalis, Washington. Bring your memories; we’ll share ours.
