Raymond Carl “Buck” Wilson, 87, of Novinger, Missouri, passed away Sunday (September 4, 2011) at Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville.

The son of James Oren and Sarah Elizabeth (Biggs) Wilson, he was born September 19, 1923 in Adair County, Missouri. On October 12, 1946 in Kirksville, Missouri, Buck was united in marriage to Velda Marie Prather.

Buck is survived by his wife Velda of sixty-four years; two sons and daughters-in-law, Jim and Evelyn Wilson of St. Louis, MO and Sam and Barb Wilson of Macon, MO; two daughters and sons-in-law, Susan and Jim Riddle of Novinger, MO and Sandra and John Williams of Greentop, MO; one sister, Pauline Plumlee of LaPlata, MO; nine grandchildren, Seth Wilson and wife Amber of Kansas City, MO, Drew Wilson and wife Sandie of Wiesbaden, Germany, Luke Wilson of Springfield, MO, Lisa Woods and husband Wesley of Huntsville, MO, Rachel Abercrombie and husband Scott of Centralia, MO, Levi Riddle of Columbia, MO, Mary Hodges and husband Joel of Kirksville, MO, Sarah Maize and husband Michael of Kirksville, MO and Ashley Glover of Kirksville, MO as well as ten great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, James in infancy and one great grandson, Jacob Hodges.

Buck received his education in the Kohlmyre School in rural Adair County. On January 29, 1943, Buck was inducted into the United States army, serving during WWII in the 40th Division Company I 108th Infantry. He was wounded on February 23, 1945 in a battle in the mountains near Clark Field in Luzon. After recovery he rejoined the 108th at Panay and on to Korea. Buck was honorably discharged on December 14, 1945. Buck was employed as a rural mail carrier for the Postal Service from 1960 to 1983.

Buck enjoyed working on lawn mowers, camping, deer hunting, fishing and loved spending time with his family and grandchildren.

He was a member of the Pure Air Baptist Church, had been attending the Novinger Baptist Church, was a member of the Missouri Rural Letter Carriers Association and was a life member of the Kirksville D.A.V.

Public visitation is in progress and the family will receive friends this evening, Tuesday (September 6, 2011) from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the chapel of Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday (September 7, 2011) at Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville, with Pastor Darrell Crooks and Reverend Don Noble officiating. Interment will follow the service at the Canaday Cemetery, southwest of Kirksville.

Pallbearers will be Luke Wilson, Seth Wilson, Levi Riddle, Joel Hodges, Scott Abercrombie and Wesley Woods. Honorary bearers will be Michael Maize, Drew Wilson and Ron Prather.

Expressions of sympathy in memory of Buck Wilson may be made to Novinger Baptist Church Building Fund or to Yarrow Cemetery. Memorials may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.