Howard N. Wilson

Howard N. Wilson, beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family. During his 92 years of life well-lived he inspired many others with his wit, wisdom, optimism and encouragement. Howard grew up in the Ozarks around Springfield, Missouri. He and his uncles collected arrowheads and walked the woods looking for Osage Orange trees that could be used to make bows. This youthful enthusiasm grew into the Black Widow Bow company, manufacturers of fine bows, arrows, and archery equipment, founded and promoted by Howard and his uncles. Howard and the "Wilson Boys" were nationally recognized archery champions. Howard volunteered for military service in 1942. His teachers' insistence that he learn civics and current events helped him test into the Army Air Corps, their Dallas Aviation School, then on to Boeing Aviation School in Seattle. His training landed him at MacDill base in Tampa, Florida where he acquired the nickname "Speedy" for his jet fueled Harley. While stationed at MacDill, he met the love of his life, Lucile, with whom he shared seventy years of marriage. After his service on Ie Shima, Howard and Lucile returned to Springfield and the family businesses. Howard and his uncles hosted a regular radio show at KWTO on which they performed country, western, and gospel songs and promoted Black Widow Bows and their other company, Wilson Brother's Tru Gyde Hooked Rug Needles. Seeking new adventures, Howard took a job at the Bendix Corporation in Kansas City. There he rose from a line inspector to Superintendent of Quality Control. Along the way, he became recognized as a leading advocate for the implementation of quality control engineering standards in American manufacturing facilities. Howard became a Master Mason, then Shriner, joining its Ararat Big Band. He also played Dixieland with the Missouri Riverboat Band. He enjoyed family weekends fishing and canoeing the Ozark Scenic Waterways, as well as raising cattle and growing soybeans with his father on their farm along the Sac River. Retiring in 1983, Howard and Lucile moved to Siesta Key. There they enjoyed fishing, boating, and music. When Midnight Pass closed, they moved to Misty Creek to enjoy golf. They also traveled extensively throughout the US, Mexico and Canada. Music remained a constant part of Howard's life. He sang and played guitar and bass with big bands and jazz groups in Sarasota and at Shell Point, including the Sahib Center Shrine Band, Noblemen, Jazz and Such, and Nostalgia, among others. Howard was predeceased by his wife, Lucile; and is survived by his children, Greg (Gale), Doug, and Lucy (Jeff) Fridkin; his grandchildren, Jason, Salena, Dustin, Elysia, Dillon and Kollin; his great-grandchildren, Alexis, Desiree, Shelby, Michelle, and Eleanor; his sister June Jennings; his late life companion Helen Higgins and a host of loving friends and family. A Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held at 2pm Saturday, May 13th, at Toale Brothers Chapel, 40 North Orange Avenue, Sarasota, FL. In lieu of flowers the family is requesting a donation to the Kidney Foundation https://www.kidney.org/support or the Shriners Hospitals for Children https://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/donate.

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Howard N. Wilson

June 13, 1924 - April 8, 2017