Millard W. “Will” Wilson

Millard W. “Will” Wilson, 85, a former longtime resident of Fairbanks and the Mat-Su Valley, died at his home at Sun Valley, Nev., Nov. 8, 2011, surrounded by his loving wife and other family members.

He was born in Tennessee on Nov. 7, 1926, the son of the late Carrie and Thomas Wilson.

He married the love of his life, Clara E. “Betty” Wilson of Healdsburg, Calif. in 1956. The couple remained in Sonoma County, Calif., until 1971, when they relocated, along with their five children, to the great state of Alaska, where he resided until 2008 before moving to Sun Valley.

Will was employed as a civil servant electrician at Fort Wainwright military base until his retirement in 1988. In his retirement, Will enjoyed fishing and traveling around Alaska with his wife, Betty, in their motor home, as well as frequent trips to the Lower 48 to visit relatives and loved ones. His family and all who knew him will remember him lovingly.

Surviving are his wife of 55 years, Clara E. “Betty” Wilson, of Sun Valley; son, James of Hawaii; daughter, Donna Mittler (Daniel) of New York; son, William of Georgia; son, Bradford (Debbie) of Anchorage; and daughter, Rebecca of Oklahoma; 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; brother, Rudolph Wilson; and sisters, Katherine Regas, Tommie Peyer and Candy Rodriguez. Many nieces and nephews who also survive him.

Preceding him in death were his sisters, Alpha Piexoto and Annabelle Kondrasiewicz; and brother, Norris.

The family is planning a private memorial service in Wilson’s beloved state of Alaska.