Harry Leon Wilson, 88 of Frazeysburg passed away on November 5, 2025 at Genesis Healthcare in Zanesville. He was born on May 12, 1937 in Newark, OH to the late Carl E. and Helen V. (Heim) Wilson.

Mr. Wilson was a member of Newark High School Class of 1955. Shortly after graduation he enlisted in the Air Force where he served for over 23 years retiring as a Chief Master Sergeant in 1978. At the time of his retirement he was an Intelligence Operations Superintendent at Headquarters Strategic Air Command (SAC) at Offutt AFB, Nebraska. He spent his entire Air Force career in Intelligence serving In overseas stations for 15 years. He had served in a number of key noncommissioned officer positions including Chief Intelligence Analyst of Soviet Air Operations in the Warsaw Pact for US Air Forces in Europe while based In Germany, and as an Intelligence Superintendent in support of B-52 aerial bombardment operations in Southeast Asia for the Strategic Air Command in Thailand during the Vietnam War. Among his many military awards are two Meritorious Service Medals, three Air Force Commendation Medals, the Vietnam Service Medal with bronze service star and the National Defense Service Medal. He was a life member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

After his Air Force career he returned to Newark to become a partner in the family-owned business, Wilson's Garden Center, where he has served in the management of greenhouse plant production for over 40 years.

Mr Wilson has been very active in the Masonic Fraternity for the past 30 years. He is a Past District Deputy Grand Master of the 19th Masonic District and a three-year Past Master of New Home Lodge No. 338 in Hanover. He is a member of York Rite Masonry having served as High Priest of Warren Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, Illustrious Master of Bigelow Council of Royal and Select Masons as well as a Knight Templar in St Luke's Commandery in Newark. Additionally, he is a 32 nd degree Scottish Rite Mason in the Valley of Columbus. He has also served as Sovereign Master of Central Ohio Chapter of the Allied Masonic Degrees. Other Masonic affiliations include the Aladdin Shrine where he served as Past President of the Licking County Shrine Club. He is also a member of the Teheran Grotto in Newark. Mr Wilson is a Colonel of Distinction in the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels.

He was a devoted husband and father. Surviving are his loving wife Evelyn, daughter Carol (Brian) Mercer of Alexandria, step-son Matthew (Shawna) Douglas of Fallsburg, step-daughters Kathleen (James) Serenko of Dallas, Georgia and Sherry Kohn of Sarnia, Ontario, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, one brother Ned (Mitzie) Wilson of Newark, one daughter-in-law Cherry duBose of Appling, Georgia. Preceding him in death in addition to his parents are his daughter, Sarah Meyer, brother John Wilson, sisters, Lynn Wilson-Slonaker and Virginia Clark and stepson Gary Bogumill of Appling, Georgia.

He was an avid baseball fan of the Cleveland Indians having followed them since the young age of eleven.

The family will receive friends from 4-7pm on Tuesday, November 11, 2025 at Brucker-Kishler Funeral Home, 985 N. 21st St., Newark. Masonic service will begin at 7pm. Funeral service will be held at 11am on Wednesday, November 12, 2025 at the funeral home. Burial with military honors will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

To sign an online guestbook, please visit www.brucker-kishlerfuneralhome.com.