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Paul E. Wilson
Paul E. Wilson Sr. passed away on February 18, 2024. He was born in Coffeyville, Ks on October 4th, 1946, Paul attended Coffeyville Public Schools and graduated from Field Kinley High School in 1964. He then attended Coffeyville Junior College, transferring to Kansas State Teachers College where he was drafted/enlisted to the Air Force for the Vietnam War. After receiving an honorary discharge in 1970, Paul completed his education with a B.S. degree in Law Enforcement Administration and completed hours towards a master’s degree in public administration at the University of Oklahoma.
Paul became the Director of Intramural Sports at the Huston Huffman Center in 1976, also working an adjunct instructor in the Department of Health and Exercise Science, teaching Sports Officiating courses for 35 years. He was an avid OU sports fan. He loved watching Sooners football, holding season tickets for over 40 years. He also loved refereeing basketball, traveling to several states as well as within the state of Oklahoma for over 30 years. He also umpired softball and was inducted into the Oklahoma Softball Hall of Fame. He was also later inducted into the OU Football Club Hall of Fame.
Paul was very active in the Norman community, serving on several committees and boards, including but not limited to, Norman Regional Hospital IRB Board, Norman Regional Hospital Foundation Board, O.U. Federal Credit Union Board member, Oklahoma Sports Officials Association, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, and the National Intramural Recreational Sports Association- NIRSA. Paul was also an active member of Rotary Club International, proud of more than 25 years of perfect attendance until Covid-19.
Paul was preceded in death by his mother and stepfather Cora and Joe Hubbard, brother Charles Wilson, granddaughter Khloe Washington and sister-in-law Barbara Homer. He is survived by his wife Charlotte, sons Paul (Ravon), Emmanuel and Marlon Wilson, daughter Payge, stepdaughters Angela Washington and Kristi Dixon, grandchildren Liliana, Kylie, Kiara, Kolbi and Elijah and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 5pm – 8pm on Friday, February 23, 2024 at Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel, 2405 Woodland Ave., Coffeyville, Kansas. Paul’s Homegoing Service will be at St Johns Church of Faith, 602 W. Martin in Coffeyville, on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at 10 am. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery. To leave an online condolence, share a memory or view services visit Paul’s obituary page at www.fordwulfbrunschapel.com
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Janie Priddy (Cole)
I am so sorry to here that Paul passed away. Sounds like he had an amazing career. May he RIP.🙏🙏🙏
Judge Sally Willett (Willett)
This is a hard one. I've known Paul since grade school at Whittier. He, Dwayne Childers and I lived in terror of Miss Williams--not the nice one. Garfield had the nice Ms. Williams, our principal's sister. Paul was always the nicest, handsomest best all-around jock our class had, He was adored by everyone. We have lost a stalwart of our class although I am not sure about the wisdom of our boys when they decided to dress up in drag and perform at one of our reunions pretending to be the Supremes if memory serves. There was never a dull moment. Paul will always be missed.
Greg Boyer
I am sorry I missed he Grade School experience with Paul. I showed the Yearbook photo to my wife Nancy and she remarked how handsome he was. Great memories of Paul for sure.
Janet Wood (King)
This is such a loss for our class. I remember Paul as a leader and good example all of his life. Very athletic and so good in sports. What an amazing career he had plus so much community service work as well. He was blessed to have Carlotte as his wife and children and grandchildren and extended family. My condolences to Charlotte and the entire family. He lived such a full life. May he Rest in Peace.
Wes Kime
You are absolutely right Sally – this is a very hard one! Paul and I didn’t talk much until our class reunions. Once we found out our mutual love for OU athletics (Paul’s career path and me as a student), we always found things to talk about. In addition, Mary Lou’s aunt and uncle were huge OU fans that Paul remembered for Aunt Grace’s booming voice when she didn’t agree with a referee’s call at home basketball games.
All this leads up to a little story about Paul that shows his truly genuine and personable nature. Mary Lou & I have attended every 1964 FKHS Class Reunion except for the last one (2019) because Mary Lou had just had knee replacement surgery in September and wasn’t allowed to travel. Paul noticed that we not only didn’t come to the reunion, but he also took the time and effort to get in touch with me afterward and make sure that we were doing okay. I will never forget that gesture of kindness and wish that I could tell him so at this year’s reunion.
Joan Elsheimer (Darby)
I'd known Paul since Whittier 6th grade and his little antics already showed then. During practice for our 6th grade graduation program, he and O'Die Royal made some comment and laughed and Miss Williams wasn't happy with that. She said "quiet.. "Okay, O'Dwyer can make the comment of Yah, right at the end of the song, Dark Town Strutters Ball; BUT NO ONE ELSE, JUST O'DWYER". Boy, every one first was quiet, then everyone said "yaaaaaaaaaaa". Muffeled laughter followed and Miss Williams didn't say a word.
Paul was a kind of guy who and would talk to everyone/anyone about any subject. Always made one feel like they'd known each other a long time. Paul's absence at our next reunion will be noticed by everyone. God Bless his family and may Paul RIP. Joan D.