David Lee Wilson

DAVID LEE WILSON of Bakersville, NC, went to his heavenly home on Sunday, December 27, 2020.  Born on April 26,1945, David was the son of the late Homer and Mary Sue Wilson of the Snow Hill Community.  Left to cherish His memory is his beloved wife of 32 years, Avril Wilson.  David is also survived by a sister, Mary Wilson, and her husband Charles; a brother, John Wilson and his wife Betty;  David’s son , Christopher and his daughter, Serena; David’s daughter, Brandi Mull and husband Shawn, and their two daughters, Cassidy and Claire, who brought much joy to his life. Nieces and a nephew, cousins, and extended family were important in David’s life.  He dearly loved our annual family reunions in August and family times at Christmas.

David was a Special Education Teacher, working in Wilmington Delaware with young adults and teens that had significant cognitive disabilities and emotional behaviors, for 15 years.  His favorite place he worked was in New Castle Delaware at the Terry Psychiatric Children’s Center. After coming to Morganton NC, David worked at Western Carolina Center for approximately ten years as an educator of adults with emotional and cognitive disabilities.  From there, he came to Mitchell County to become a Special Needs teacher, Physical Education, and History teacher with the school system. David taught and coached basketball.  A tribute to David, is that both his children, Christopher and Brandi, followed in his footsteps, and both made careers working with persons of special needs as well.

Everyone who knew Dave, liked him. David was easy to talk to, a good listener, kind, very patient, and never failed to ask anyone, but especially mom’s caregivers how they were and could he lend a helping hand to them. Of course, while he did this, he loved to joke with them, and pull pranks on them! David had such a great sense of humor, loved to be silly, and sometimes bend the rules. His heart and smile were so big! He was never too busy for people of all ages, especially children. David never complained, he focused on the needs of others and not himself. He loved sitting with his mother, telling her stories, looking at old pictures of her family and watching basketball and football games with her on Sundays. The “Panthers” was his team!

Dave loved his dogs. He and Avril had many over the years of their marriage. Large dogs, Huskies and Malamutes were their preference, Zeb, Nanoock, Pandy, and Ragnar were a few. Dave and Avril’s love for animals and each other was a special relationship to experience. Years of friendship, commitment, and companionship through struggles with his health, Avril was the excellent partner David wanted.

David loved cars and car shows. Sports cars, fast cars, convertibles, classical cars were all his favorites. He also loved the history of Mitchell County. When Brandi, Chris, Mandi, and Stephanie were young, he drove them all over the county, walking across the swinging bridges, train trestles and taking them to Frankie and Johnnie’s house, telling them the stories that went along with their adventures. One of his grandchildren said it like this, “When I think of Papa Dave, I picture him sitting in a chair, reading.  An enquiring mind, always seeking to learn new things, and explore histories, especially local histories. From devouring available sources on legendary figures shrouded in mystery, like Frankie and Johnny Silver and Black Beard the pirate, and to taking in the historical plaques along the cobblestone streets of Delaware. I think of “pace” with Dave, how he would draw out his words.  You could get lost in his inflection. The way he would drag a joke out to the point you might think it was an historical event, before he delivered the punch line.  Dave loved speed, taking his kids out for their first motorcycle rides and zipping through mountain gravel roads in sports cars. When I think of him, I think of how he encouraged the telling of stories, listening and talking to us.”

Those wishing to make a memorial donation in David Wilson’s memory are asked to consider Special Olympics of Mitchell County Schools, Ledger School Rd. Bakersville NC,   the Mitchell County Animal Rescue, 2492 US-19E Spruce Pine 28777, and/ or Snow Hill Cemetery Fund,% John Wilson 302 Slagle Rd. Bakersville28705.

A celebration of the life of David Wilson will be at a later date, perhaps on his birthday in April 2021.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of David Lee Wilson, please visit our floral store.