Claxton Reginald Wilson, 98, passed away early Tuesday morning November 13, 2018 at Methodist Hospital in Baytown. He was born February 14, 1920, to Judge Claxton R. Wilson and Maye B. Wilson in Liberty, Texas.
Reginald graduated from Liberty High School in 1937. He attended Schreiner College from 1937 to 1939, University of Texas 1939-1940, and Baylor Medical School from 1940-1943. He graduated from Southwestern Medical School in Dallas in 1944. After an internship at Hermann Hospital, Houston, in 1945, he entered the United States Army Medical Corps. His first assignment was Basic Training at Carlyle Barracks, Pa. Following this his next assignment was the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Mi. where he received special training in Anesthesia. He was then stationed at Ft. Sheridan Regional Medical Hospital until discharged Jan. 1947. At Ft. Sheridan he was in charge of the operating rooms, central supply, an Officers Ward, and the last three months served on a General Court Marshall. In 1947 he opened his office in General Practice in Dayton. Dr. Wilson was a member of the Liberty-Chambers Medical Society, Texas Medical Society, Academy of General Practice, and the American Medical Society. He was on the Staff of the Dayton Memorial Hospital, Yettie Kersting Hospital, and the Liberty Memorial Hospital. During this time he served three terms on the Dayton Independent School Board and two terms on the Dayton City Council. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, and a life time member of the First United Methodist Church. In 1981 he was selected Citizen of the Year by the Liberty-Dayton Chambers of Commerce. Earlier this year, as a part of the 75th anniversary celebration of Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, he was recognized as the last surviving member of the first graduating class.
In 1945 Dr. Wilson married Elizabeth Olson of Hatton, North Dakota, who was a graduate nurse of the Kahler School of Nursing, Rochester, Minnesota. Both enjoyed traveling for their vacations. Together they traveled Western Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, the Holy Land, Egypt, the Caribbean Islands, Central America, Mexico, Hawaii, Tahiti, and all the States in the United States including Alaska. During several vacations Dr. Wilson worked at a Presbyterian Mission Station at Xocempech, Yucatan and once in Bolivia. Their vacations also included a number of cruises and tours. His hobbies were amateur radio, boating, fishing, and Mayan archaeology. In 1972 he, with a Missionary Aviation Fellowship pilot, explored and wrote a report on the large newly discovered Mayan ruins in Quintana Roo, Yucatan, which was published in the United States and in Mexico.
He retired in 1982 due to a vision problem after practicing thirty eight years. He enjoyed his retirement researching the Norwegian genealogy of Elizabeth, his wife. They later made a trip to Norway to meet some of her distant relatives. After becoming a member of the Laffite Society of Galveston, he did extensive research of Jean Laffite, pirate and privateer. He is survived by his daughter, Patricia Louise Davis of Poolesville, Maryland; sons, Randall Bruce Wilson and wife Dixie Ann of Dallas, and Larry Martin Wilson and wife Claudia of Chireno, Texas. He is survived by grandchildren, Ryan Welch and wife Amy of W. Hollywood, California, Lisa Renee Welch of Jeffersonton, Virginia, Kelly Driver and husband Heath of Austin, Texas, Mark M. Wilson and wife Elizabeth of Austin, Texas, Elizabeth Smith and husband Marshall of Dallas, Texas, Capt. Shari E. Wilson of the United State Air Force, James Wilson of Nacogdoches, Texas and 10 great grandchildren. Reginald was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Dr. Thelbert Ruyle Wilson.
Visitation is scheduled with the family Friday, November 16, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Pace-Stancil Funeral Home in Dayton. Services will be held at First United Methodist Church in Dayton at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, November 17, 2018 with interment to follow at Magnolia Park Cemetery.
For those who desire, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 505, Dayton, Texas 77535.