Roger Dale Wilson MD's Obituary
Roger Dale Wilson, M.D. was born March 18, 1944, and passed from this earth on Wednesday, March 4, 2015. He is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 51 years, Valerie Harless Wilson, his mother Bernadene Wilson, and the apples of his eye, son Greg & wife Marcy Wilson, daughter Wendi & husband Ted Ward, and grandchildren Ethan Wilson, Theo and Naomi Ward, Zack and Addie Powers, sisters Judy Harnden, Janis & husband Neal Bhow, brother Crist & wife Cherie Wilson, all of Tulsa; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.His passion was his family, grandchildren, outdoors, and studying. He was an aficionado of knowledge, whether it was medicine, aquariums, computers, old movies, music, or making old things new. Friends and family would immediately think of Roger when putting together a trivia team or when confronted with a bizarre and perplexing problem that even Google drew a blank on.The second child born to Woodrow and Bernadene Wilson, he was the oldest of four…because he was a boy. That is how he told it when goading his big sister, Judy. Roger’s sense of humor and loving way of teasing will be a treasured memory for all those close to him. A pair of practical jokesters, Roger and his mom kept each other on their toes with long-running symbols of their affection to one other. No one will forget the decades-long repeat-appearance of a corn cob bearing one perfect row of uneaten kernels. (Roger innocently declined to finish eating that last row of kernels, much to his mother’s consternation, and Bernie, being equal to the task, saved the corn cob for future laughs.) His high school friends will always remember how he placed “the great pumpkin” on “the great spirit” at Central High School.After attending Oklahoma State University, he served in the Army Reserve from 1966-72 and began a rewarding 25 year career with his father, Woodrow Wilson, at Wilson Fire Protection. At age 46, Roger decided to change careers, returned to college and got his B.S. in the premed program at the University of Tulsa. At age 52 he became the oldest person to graduate from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, then began his practice at age 55 after a residency in Internal Medicine. Dr. Wilson was a most compassionate and caring physician, as well as an outstanding diagnostician.Roger enjoyed the labor and patience associated with doing things well, whether it was creating a beautiful outdoor landscape, replacing a wheel bearing on his tractor, or organizing a weekend camp and carnival for his grandkids. Once he finished his task, friends and family were in awe of the detail, aesthetics, and skill that he applied.His family was fortunate and thankful to enjoy some recent and really special moments: his golden anniversary with his wife; ballroom dancing with his daughter; and a trip for his 70th birthday to London with his son.To honor his memory, a memorial service will be held for Dr. Roger Wilson on Friday, April 10, at 2:00 pm at Centenary United Methodist Church, 631 North Denver in Tulsa. A reception will follow at Tulsa Country Club, 701 North Union. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to one of Roger’s favorite organizations: OU College of Medicine, OETA or the University of Tulsa.
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