Andy Wilson, a dear friend to many and well renowned with love in the King Air industry, passed away on June 1st. For many years he was a stalwart at different aviation companies including Ice Shield, Stevens Aerospace and Jet East. A great big guy with a heart of gold, often dressed to the nines, Andy was a mainstay at numerous aviation events and never met a stranger. He will be greatly missed.
His close friend Chip McClure, Founder & CEO of Jet Acquisitions, wrote the following obituary:
Some people work in aviation, some people live it.
Andy Wilson lived aviation and in a way only a big guy with a huge personality can. He brought joy and happiness to everyone he met. Andy loved aviation, he loved the airplanes, and he loved the people. He loved the shows and making new friends.
Andy was born in Pleasant View, TN to Mac and Charlie Wilson. For you foreigners, Pleasant View, Tennessee is halfway between the city and the country. If you knew Andy, you knew he was a little of both.
The most dapper Tennessee Gentleman that any of us knew, Andy always said he was the best dressed big guy in aviation. He was right at home with the city folk, and usually dressed nicer than they were. But when he was at home, he went country and was more likely to be in shorts and a t-shirt, riding his golf cart and smoking a cigar, or riding down to the beach with his daughter Emma Grace.
If he wasn’t sporting his signature sport-coat or shorts and flip-flips, he might be wearing a kilt. Seriously, a kilt. If you haven’t seen a guy that big in a kilt, it’s something to see.
Andy was a passionate music lover. Not only did he love to listen to music, he loved to play music and sing. He sang tenor in various bluegrass bands for years and was an excellent guitar and mandolin player and had recently also taken up the bagpipes.
Andy met a girl, that girl became a young lady and his wife. For 26 years, Andy and Stacie did love and live life together.
23 years ago, they added Emma Grace and became one of the tightest little families you have ever seen. Andy meant so much to so many, few people have made the impact that Andy made.
He will be missed by many - all who knew him called him friend. Andy Wilson loved the Lord, and the Lord knew him and yes, our Lord called him friend.
Andy leaves behind his wife Stacie Wilson, his daughter Emma Grace Wilson, his mother Charlie, and his sister Lisa Ellis, her husband Jamie, and nephew Bryce Ellis and his wife Kaitlin.
Andy’s roots run deep in Tennessee and Scotland - his ashes will be spread over the Highlands of Scotland. A memorial service will be held on June 25, 2023 at The Cedars At Carr Farm, 3795 Turnersville Rd, Cedar Hill, TN 37032.
We have established the Wilson Memorial Fund to assist Stacie and Emma during this very difficult time and are currently working on setting up a college fund for Emma Grace.
If you would like to donate, you may do so by check, ACH or wire transfer.
If check;
Payable to:
Wilson Memorial Fund
C/O Simmons Bank
198 E. Main Street
Suite 100
Franklin, TN 37064
If ACH;
Wilson Memorial Fund
Account# 137276089
Routing# 082900432
Simmons Bank
198 E. Main Street
Suite 100
Franklin, TN 37064
I would like to personally extend my deepest gratitude to all of you and to, if possible, express how grateful Stacie is; she and Emma Grace have been through a lot, but the outpouring of love and generosity from the aviation community is overwhelming.
Condolences from the industry have also been pouring in; we've captured some screenshots of these below:
