Ben Ed Wilson

Ben Ed Wilson, age 82, passed away Thursday, December 15, 2022.

Visitation:  5pm to 7pm Monday, December 19, 2022, at Lake Shore Funeral Home, 5201 Steinbeck Bend, Waco

Funeral Services:  10am Tuesday, December 20, 2022, at Lake Shore Funeral Home with Dr. Billy Gotcher officiating. CLICK HERE to view the Live Stream of the service

Graveside Service:  2pm Tuesday, December 20, 2022, at Weaver Chapel Cemetery in Coryell County

Benjamin Edgar (Ben Ed) was born on March 14, 1940, on the family farm in Ames (Coryell County), Texas, to Charley Brown Wilson and Loutishia Benner Wilson.  He graduated from Gatesville High School in 1958 and proudly served his country in the United States Army.

Upon completing his military service, he came to Waco looking for a job and decided to visit his cousin, who was not home, but her roommate, Wanda Joyner, was.  After a six-week courtship, they married on May 29, 1961, in Alexandria, Louisiana, and built a life together of 49 years until Wanda’s passing in 2010.

At an early age, Ben Ed had the aptitude for fixing things.  He used his talent and skills in his career as a heavy equipment mechanic for Darr Equipment Company (later sold to Holt Equipment) for over 43 years, retiring in 2005, where most knew him as “Willie.”  The job took him to many places around Texas, with many years spent at Alcoa in Rockdale.  He was proud to work on the big Caterpillar tractors all those years and forged many friendships.

Ben Ed had a special connection with any animal he interacted with.  Whether it was as a boy getting a wounded owl healthy enough to return to the wild or teaching his dog to drink from a straw, the many special dogs he had over the years, or the pet rabbits he would spoil in his lap while watching television, they all brought him joy.

Ben Ed also enjoyed riding in the country with Wanda, especially on the backroads.  The miles are countless of their many road trips throughout Texas and the entire US.

Ben Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Charley Brown Wilson, and Loutishia Benner Wilson; wife, Wanda Wilson; brother, Philip Wilson; brother-in-law, Benny Wallace; and sister-in-law, Joy Flowers.

Survivors include his daughter, Rhonda Gotcher, and husband Billy of Taylors, SC; son, Eddie Wilson, and wife, Vicky Macha of Bastrop, TX; sister, Charlene Wallace of Charlotte, NC; brothers-in-law, Robert Joyner and wife Dianne of Waco, TX and Mack Joyner and wife Brenda of Reagan, TX; grandchildren, Mack Gotcher, Ethan (Sarah) Gotcher, Kayla Gotcher, Jared (Melissa) Gotcher, Lyndsey Aguirre, Cody Aguirre, Colton Wilson, and Caleb Macha; six great-grandchildren; and dear friends, William and Carolyn Mynar of Chalk Bluff, TX.

Memorials in Ben Ed’s memory may be made to Weaver Chapel Cemetery Association, 3470 CR 108, Gatesville, TX 76528.

Thoughts and memories may be shared at www.LakeShoreFH.com.

Place of Service: Lake Shore Funeral Home Chapel , 5201 Steinbeck Bend; Waco, TX 76708