Funeral Services for 95 year old Wilburn "Willie" Wilson of Cadiz, KY will be Sunday, May 18, 2025 at 2:00 PM at Goodwin Funeral Home, Inc. in Cadiz, KY
Burial with military honors will follow in Cerulean Cemetery in Cerulean, KY
Visitation:
Goodwin Funeral Home, Inc. on Saturday, May 17, 2025 after 4:00 PM
Survivors include:
Wife of 71 years – JoAnn Campbell Wilson, Cadiz, KY
Daughter – Donna Brashears, Cadiz, KY
Five grandchildren
Eight great-grandchildren
Three Nieces
Wilburn "Willie" M. Wilson, age 95, of Cadiz, KY, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at his home in Cadiz.
Born on March 13, 1930, in Cerulean, KY, he was the son of the late Robert E. and Verdya Shanks Wilson.
Willie attended Cerulean School and graduated from Trigg County High School in 1947. He later studied electronics through DeForrest Electronics in Chicago, IL, and worked in the repair shop at Modern Radio Service in Hopkinsville, KY. He obtained his First Class Radio Telephone Operator's License and began work at WPKY, Princeton, KY, in March 1950, as Announcer-Engineer. In February 1951 Willie enlisted in the United States Navy and served four years as a First Class Electronics Technician, repairing electronics equipment on many ships and working part-time at WTAR-TV.
After his honorable discharge in 1955, Willie returned to WPKY as morning personality "Uncle Willie" and performed various other duties, sports play-by-play, local news gathering and writing, advertising sales, and coverage of all community and school events. His visits to elementary school classrooms each week and his "Wake Up With Willie" morning show were the most popular of his years at WPKY (1955-1965).
Recognizing the need for instant communication in Cadiz and Trigg County, several community business leaders joined forces to establish a local radio station, and on April 8, 1966, Willie signed on the air at 11:00 AM, broadcasting his show for the first time on WKDZ from Will Jackson Road. As an original stockholder of Barkley Lake Broadcasting Co., Willie also served as General Manager of WKDZ until the station was sold in 1986. As an on-air announcer and morning personality, he was the voice of Cadiz and Trigg County for many years, keeping the community entertained and informed of all that was important. Willie was well-known and well-respected among his peers, and for his personal contributions to the broadcasting industry, he was inducted into the Kentucky Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame in 2006.
While still serving in the Navy, Willie married the love of his life, Jo Ann Campbell, on May 23, 1954. They raised twin daughters, Donna and Deborah, and attended Cerulean Baptist Church where Willie was a lifelong member. As a deacon and former chairman, he led by example, teaching Sunday school since 1971 and lifting spirits with his voice as the song leader. His musical talents extended to the piano, which he occasionally played at church, as well as to his beloved banjo. Willie's love for the Lord and for his family was evident in every aspect of his life, and he cherished his church family as much as his own. He was a man who loved to give, often sending cards and letters to celebrate the milestone events in the lives of many people in the community.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Leo Wilson; his sister, Agnes Wilson Hillyard; his daughter, Deborah Anderson; sons-in-law, Alvin Anderson and Brad Brashears; and his grandson, Terry Anderson.
He is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 71 years, Jo Ann Campbell Wilson, and his daughter, Donna Brashears of Cadiz. He was a doting "Gran Gran" to his grandchildren, John Martin Linton, Brandon Linton (Cynthia), Bridgett Perrin (Chris), Kenny Anderson (Erica), and Tracey Anderson, and to his eight great-grandchildren, Trevor, Tyler, & Kylie Linton, Tanner Linton Rose, James Shaffer, Daniel & Kaci Anderson, and Kelei Perrin. He is also survived by his nieces, Valerie Hillyard and Molly Wilson; and his bonus family of Heather Lamb, Jessie, Lillian, & Laikyn Burcham, and Sheena, Dominic, & Jackson Harris.
Arrangements are being handled by Goodwin Funeral Home, Inc., 138 Main Street in Cadiz, where the family will receive friends after 4:00 PM on Saturday, May 17, 2025. Funeral services will be at Goodwin Funeral Home at 2:00 PM, Sunday, May 18, 2025, with Bro. Russ Thomas, Bro. Gary Mitchell, and Bro. Reed Shepherd officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in Cerulean Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to Cerulean Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 7, Cerulean, KY 42215.
