Allan F Wilson's Obituary
Allan (Al) F. Wilson, 79, beloved Husband, Daddy, Granddaddy and Friend, went to live with his heavenly Father on November 13, 2015. He lived his life, right up to the final moments, with love, courage, and dignity. A resident of the Tampa Bay area since 1958, Mr. Wilson was born on July 11, 1936, in Barre, Vermont, to George Henry Wilson, Jr., and Vera Ellen Flanders. Following high school and working with his Dad on the family dairy farm, Mr. Wilson served honorably in the United States Air Force. It was during his military service, while stationed at MacDill AFB, that he met the love of his life, Ida Rathel, in 1958. After a short courtship, Al and Ida were wed at El Bethel Church in Tampa, on March 9, 1959, and elected to remain in Tampa where Ida’s large family was based. They had three children: Sandra (Sandy), Darlene, and Benjamin (Ben).
Following his military service, Mr. Wilson became a Journeyman Carpenter and was an active member of Carpenters Local 696. He was a leader of men, both on and off the jobsite, and for years, he taught in the apprenticeship program. He rose in the construction industry to be the Field Superintendent on several buildings that grace the Tampa skyline. Once he earned his Contractor’s license, Al started his own custom home building company before joining Johnson Construction Inc. as Vice President.
All who knew Al Wilson were aware of the amazing talents and abilities of this incredibly positive and humble man. With his own hands he built homes, pools, and beautiful treasured heirlooms for his soulmate Ida, his children and grandchildren. Al was also known in the Lutz community for the antique cars (all Fords of course!) that he restored and drove in the July 4th community parades for many years. In 1989, after all their children had finished college, Al and Ida launched “Mailbox Impressions”, a very successful small business that finally allowed Al to display his creative and entrepreneurial talents. There are homes throughout Tampa Bay graced by a custom mailbox designed and constructed by Al. If one could verbalize an idea, Al could draw and build it!
Al played as hard, (maybe harder), as he worked. He believed that a family that both worked and played together, stayed together. The family spent many hours waterskiing, snow-skiing and hiking as well as taking family RV trips across the U.S. and Canada. These activities intensified after Al and Ida welcomed their first grandchild, Arielle, and then sold the mailbox business in 2001. Arielle and her Granddaddy had a very special relationship from the many summers she spent traveling with her grandparents and the “after school” activities they shared. In recent years, although Al struggled with illness, he continued to be the lynch pin of his family and his recent second grandchild, Dane Allan, loved him dearly.
Mr. Wilson was a long time member of Idlewild Baptist Church; faith and family were the cornerstones of his life. These tenants were especially evident as his illness slowly striped away all but the beautiful soul of this beloved man.
Al’s only brother, George H. Wilson, III, passed away four days after Al on November 17, 2015. The two brothers, who stayed close throughout their lives, have now gone together to join their parents in Heaven. Al leaves behind his wife of 57 years, Ida; three children, Benjamin Wilson, Darlene Wilson, Sandra Wilson Smith; two grandchildren, Arielle Smith and Dane Allan Wilson; sister, Susan Wilkie; nieces, nephews and other relatives in Florida and Vermont; and loyal friends.
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