Thomas Virgil Wilson

Thomas Virgil Wilson died Monday, May 2, 2016 at Cottingham House Hospice. He was born March 9, 1922 in Anderson County, the son of Bowman and Mae Merritt Wilson. He has been a resident of Clemson since 1957.

He was educated at Airy Springs Elementary (pre- Wren), Easley High School, Clemson College (University), Purdue University, and North Carolina State University, with a major in Agricultural Engineering for the B. S., M. S., and Ph. D. degrees. He entered the Army Infantry immediately after graduating from Clemson in 1942, served 16 months in the Infantry, transferred to the Air Corps Pilot Training Program, and was pilot of a B-17 bomber, serving in the 8th Air Force. After service he decided on a career of teaching and research, beginning at the University of Georgia in 1947, then to Purdue University, North Carolina State University, and Clemson University, where he retired as a Distinguished Alumni Professor in 1984.

During his professional career, he was active in The American Society of Agricultural Engineers, the National as well as the Southeast Section, and the South Carolina State Branch, and The American Geophysical Union. During his career he was also active in the honor societies of Alpha Zeta, Gamma Sigma Delta, and Sigma Xi. He authored or coauthored approximately thirty technical papers based on research he did, primarily on watershed hydrology.

He is survived by his wife Louvell Cooper Wilson of almost 74 years of marriage, daughter Jane and her husband Warren Lineberger of Charlotte, NC, daughter Anita Newton of Clemson and son Tim and his wife Vivian Ann Wilson of Colorado Springs, CO., ten grandchildren (plus eight spouses) and twenty great grandchildren. He was predeceased by brothers Richard and Herbert, sister Catherine Young and sister in law Ruth Wilson. His sister Mary and her husband Rev Gene Neely continue to live in Piedmont. He was an active member of Clemson First Baptist Church for 27 years, after which he helped to start Clemson Presbyterian Church, as a charter member.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, May 7, at 11:00am at Clemson Presbyterian Church, 346 Old Greenville Highway, Clemson. Visitation with the family will follow at the same location. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be sent to Clemson Presbyterian Church.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com. 

Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home, Central is assisting the family.