Paul Emery Willson

Paul Emery Willson died in Christ Saturday afternoon July 20th, 2019 at 82 years of age. Paul was born April 7, 1937 in Rochester, New Hampshire to Paul Joy and Vera Dorothea Willson.

His high school graduation from Brewster Free Academy in 1955 was just the beginning of his education and training, which spanned the continent and reflected the breadth of his interests. His two years at Providence Barrington Bible College in Rhode Island were followed by training at the RCA Institute in New York City. He learned cryptography when he served in the US Army in New Jersey, and after the family moved to Colorado in 1970, he studied music at Fort Lewis College. In 1975, his interest in airplanes brought him to Tulsa, OK, where he pursued an airframe and power plant license at Spartan School of Aeronautics.

In his choice of work and in his hobbies, Paul’s legacy reflects a wide array of interests. He worked for the Raytheon Corporation as a technical illustrator and writer until moving to Durango, CO. There, Paul worked in refrigeration and piano tuning while also training to receive a private pilot’s license. In Oklahoma, he was an instructor at Spartan, Vo-Tech, and eventually Tulsa Tech. He was able to employ his skills as a technical writer at Braden Steel, Nordam, and Unit Rig, and on the weekends, he served as the organist at several churches including Tulsa Bible Church, Sequoyah Hills Baptist Church and, for 11 years, Our Savior Lutheran. After retirement, his love for missions brought him to a greater calling, as Paul and Ernie were led to serve as missionaries with New Tribes Mission Aviation.

Over the years, Paul was a familiar figure at Eastwood, First Baptist Church Broken Arrow, Gracemont, Tulsa Bible Church, and Journey Bible, and friends knew him as a musician, lover of trains, and a genius at building and restoring almost anything mechanical. He came from a musically talented family and enjoyed serving God with his talents as an organist and pianist. He also enjoyed building and restoring everything from airplanes to cars to trains. His favorite project was the total restoration of a 1941 World War II-era Jeep. From the Cessna 120 he rebuilt in Colorado, which he used to take his children on overnight birthday trips to the Piper Cub he flew out of Tulsa’s Harvey Young Airport, no project was too great. Even smaller projects, such as model trains, antique cars, and radio-controlled airplanes became larger than life as they continue on in the memories of those who loved him.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Thelma Joy Kellner. He is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 62 years, Ernestine; son, Paul Allan and wife Pam; son Dave; son, Tom and wife Sharon, daughter, Janice, and daughter, Brenda(Willson)McCulley and husband Ron; brother Charles E. Willson of Alton, NH; his loving grandchildren and great grandchildren: Nathan and Hillary (Willson) Brown and Solomon, Whidbey Island, WA; Bethany Willson, Broken Arrow, OK; Paul Steven and Hannah (Arjay) Willson and Paul Michael and Benjamin, Tulsa, OK; Daniel and Courtney (Duncan) Willson and Sophia, Broken Arrow; Jonathan Willson, Luke Willson and Amy Willson, Broken Arrow, OK.,David Willson, Montrose, CO; Matthew and Kendra (Saine) Willson and Titus, Tucker and Elsie Mae, Colorado Springs, CO; Nathan Willson, Colorado Springs, CO.,Kaylee, Thomas, Andrew and Sparrow Willson, Manitou Springs, CO; Kristi (Willson) and Cody Johnson, Buena Vista, CO; Randy and Kelsey (Saine) Lee, Colorado Springs, CO..Ronnie and Kristyn (Concepcion) McCulley and Alaina, Indianapolis, IN; Jessica (McCulley) and Ryan Siemens and Brookelyn, Chase, Emmalyn and Jackson, Owasso, OK; Lauren (McCulley) and Jeremiah Adams and Liam, Broken Arrow, OK; Jacob McCulley, Indianapolis, IN. He is greatly missed by all.

Memorial Donations in Paul's honor can be made to: Child Evangelism Fellowship, 2906 S Yale Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74114.