Obituary for George "Buddy" Wilson III
George “Buddy” Wilson, III, age 77, of Whitley City, husband of Pam Wilson passed away Friday, March 1, 2024, at the Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital in Somerset, and was placed in the care of the Hickman-Strunk Funeral Home.
Funeral services were held Thursday, March 7, 2024, at 1:00 pm at the First Baptist Church, Whitley City with Bro. John Ditty officiating. Burial followed in the McCreary Memorial Gardens. Assisting the family as pallbearers were, Eddie Bear Stephens, Terry Lawson, Bo Rowe, John Weir, Gordon Kidd, and Ray Moncrief. Also assisting the family, Dr. M.A. Winchester, J.C. Egnew, and Milton Morrow as Honorary Pallbearers. The family received friends after 6:00pm Wednesday at the church.
Buddy was born to George G. Wilson, Jr., and Nixola (Anderson) Wilson on October 18th, 1946, in Oneida, Tennessee. He had a very interesting childhood as his parents owned and operated Ridgecrest Hotel in Whitley City and he grew up in the business. Buddy graduated from McCreary County High School in 1964 and went on to pursue a bachelor’s degree at Eastern Kentucky University. While attending college he participated in the ROTC program. Upon graduation Buddy entered the US Army as a Lieutenant where he served for two years during the Vietnam War. He would go on to serve twenty years in the National Guard and retire with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
In 1972 he partnered with John Crabtree and later became the owner and principal agent of Crabtree-Wilson Insurance Agency. He was still actively participating in the business. Buddy had served as Chairman of the Southern Agents Conference and President of the Independent Insurance Agents of Kentucky. He achieved recognition as a Certified Insurance Counselor, which at the time involved 5 twenty hours of “intensive” classroom courses including personal lines, commercial lines, life and health, and agency management.
Buddy's heart was always with his community. If there was a way he could serve those around him, he would find it. He served as a Charter member of the Chamber of Commerce and as Past President and as the President of the Whitley City Lions Club. Buddy was currently serving on the Board of Directors for the McCreary Heritage Foundation and served as a past member of the board of directors for Hospice of Lake Cumberland. He also helped establish the Arson Task Force in Frankfort. Buddy was known for his servant heart, his community mindset, and his love for the Lord. Buddy was a faithful longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Whitley City where he served 40 plus years as a Deacon.
He is preceded in death by his parents, George G. Wilson, Jr., and Nixola (Anderson) Wilson.
Buddy is survived by his wife of 55 years, Pam Wilson, a son, George Grady Wilson, IV and his wife, Amy, of Smithtown, a daughter, Wendy Wilson of Whitley City, his granddaughter, Haley Duncan, a brother, Dr. Drew Wilson, and his wife, Denise, of Naples, Fl., a sister—in-law, Kathy Woods, of Whitley City, many nieces, nephews, and cousins, and an innumerable amount of friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to First Baptist Church, Whitley City.
Hickman-Strunk Funeral Home was honored to serve the family of Buddy Wilson.
Funeral services were held Thursday, March 7, 2024, at 1:00 pm at the First Baptist Church, Whitley City with Bro. John Ditty officiating. Burial followed in the McCreary Memorial Gardens. Assisting the family as pallbearers were, Eddie Bear Stephens, Terry Lawson, Bo Rowe, John Weir, Gordon Kidd, and Ray Moncrief. Also assisting the family, Dr. M.A. Winchester, J.C. Egnew, and Milton Morrow as Honorary Pallbearers. The family received friends after 6:00pm Wednesday at the church.
Buddy was born to George G. Wilson, Jr., and Nixola (Anderson) Wilson on October 18th, 1946, in Oneida, Tennessee. He had a very interesting childhood as his parents owned and operated Ridgecrest Hotel in Whitley City and he grew up in the business. Buddy graduated from McCreary County High School in 1964 and went on to pursue a bachelor’s degree at Eastern Kentucky University. While attending college he participated in the ROTC program. Upon graduation Buddy entered the US Army as a Lieutenant where he served for two years during the Vietnam War. He would go on to serve twenty years in the National Guard and retire with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
In 1972 he partnered with John Crabtree and later became the owner and principal agent of Crabtree-Wilson Insurance Agency. He was still actively participating in the business. Buddy had served as Chairman of the Southern Agents Conference and President of the Independent Insurance Agents of Kentucky. He achieved recognition as a Certified Insurance Counselor, which at the time involved 5 twenty hours of “intensive” classroom courses including personal lines, commercial lines, life and health, and agency management.
Buddy's heart was always with his community. If there was a way he could serve those around him, he would find it. He served as a Charter member of the Chamber of Commerce and as Past President and as the President of the Whitley City Lions Club. Buddy was currently serving on the Board of Directors for the McCreary Heritage Foundation and served as a past member of the board of directors for Hospice of Lake Cumberland. He also helped establish the Arson Task Force in Frankfort. Buddy was known for his servant heart, his community mindset, and his love for the Lord. Buddy was a faithful longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Whitley City where he served 40 plus years as a Deacon.
He is preceded in death by his parents, George G. Wilson, Jr., and Nixola (Anderson) Wilson.
Buddy is survived by his wife of 55 years, Pam Wilson, a son, George Grady Wilson, IV and his wife, Amy, of Smithtown, a daughter, Wendy Wilson of Whitley City, his granddaughter, Haley Duncan, a brother, Dr. Drew Wilson, and his wife, Denise, of Naples, Fl., a sister—in-law, Kathy Woods, of Whitley City, many nieces, nephews, and cousins, and an innumerable amount of friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to First Baptist Church, Whitley City.
Hickman-Strunk Funeral Home was honored to serve the family of Buddy Wilson.