Obituary and Service Details

 

With sadness we share that Anthony Mark Wilson died June 2, 2023, of multiple myeloma. He was 82 years old. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend to many. 

Tony was born on December 24th, 1940 to Thilmore Thomas Wilson and Lela May Gregory Wilson, in Ellensburg WA. He grew up on the family farm on what was then called L Wilson road, named for his grandfather. He graduated from Ellensburg High School in 1959. He then served in the US Army reserves until 1961. He graduated from Central Washington University with a BS in English in 1965. After attending the University of Washington he graduated with an MLS in 1966. He married his high school sweetheart Mary Laura Goad in 1965. In their first years of marriage they lived in a small cabin in Juanita off Lake Washington. Tony became a father when his son Ben was born in 1968. In 1972 the family moved to Federal Way, WA where he lived for the rest of his life. 

Tony’s professional life began at Highline Community College in 1966, where he worked until his retirement 40 years later in 2006. He founded and coordinated the Library Technician Program and retired as a Professor, Emeritus. He was active in the library community and served as the president of the Washington Library Association from 1981-1983. In the 1990s he consulted at university libraries in Haiti and Cyprus. 

In his retirement he enjoyed a variety of hobbies and volunteer activities. He was particularly active in the South King County Tool Library, as well as the Armed Defense Training Association. He was licensed as a minister with the Universal Life Church and performed several hundred weddings and dozens of funerals over 50 years.  

Tony is survived by his wife of 57 years, Mary(Laurie), his son Ben, daughter-in-law Kimberli, and granddaughters Deepika and Savita. 

A memorial service for Tony will be held on July 8th, 2023 at 1:00PM in the Founders Lodge at the Des Moines Beach Park Event Center at 22030 Cliff Ave S, Des Moines, WA 98198. Please contact ben@amwilson.org with any questions.