Wilson did a lot for Bloomfield, Greene County

Walter Wilson [Order this photo]

The death of former Bloomfield Town Councilman Walter L. Wilson, 88, leaves behind many memories for his friends and family.

His passing creates a sentimental void in the central Greene County community.

Those who knew Walter well said not many people really knew everything this man did for the town he loved and that was just the way he wanted it.

He shunned away from the public limelight and let his actions speak for themselves.

Walter, a staunch Republican, served on the council for four terms -- 16 years -- and he was elected president for 12 of those years.

Walter's hobby was woodworking and helping others.

He "moonlighted" in the plumbing and electrical business and took a lot of delight in helping those less fortunate in the community, according to his friends.

Larry Ellis, who was associated with Walter through the Oddfellow's Lodge for many years, said he was a community-minded individual who had a big heart.

"He was always trying to help somebody. A lot of times he helped people that probably didn't even know it. He was always ready to help somebody," Ellis said.

One of his closest friends was Bob Yoho, of Bloomfield, who served with him for a dozen years on the town council."He was the best friend I had, I suppose other than my wife," Yoho said. "He done a good job on every thing he did. He was a smart man and he really took an interest in Bloomfield."

Yoho, who said it was Wilson who recruited him to serve on the council, said Wilson was unselfish in the all the labor and materials that he donated to the town over the years -- fixing things -- just trying to save the town money.

"He did so many things for the town such as electrical work and plumbing and this and that and people didn't know anything about it. He didn't want people to know anything about it. That's just the kind of guy he was. He also did a lot of work for the Masonic Lodge and the Oddfellows," Yoho said.

Yoho agreed his friend's death is loss for the whole county.

"It's a great big loss for the community," Yoho stressed.

Current Bloomfield Town Council President Roger Doane agreed.

"I had worked with him when he was on the town board on a planning commission and a couple other projects," Doane said.

Doane also acknowledged that Wilson did a lot of behind-the-scenes things that most people in the town didn't know about.

"He was very concerned and very watchful over the town and the people in it as well." Doane said. "I'm going to miss him. I talked to him when I got on the town council ... I called him, former town council member Yoho and former council president Eric Harrah. I drew on their experience."

Walter was born May 29, 1921 in Owensburg, the son of James Alva and Hermie (Sullivan) Wilson.

Walter grew up in eastern Greene County and graduated in 1939 from Owensburg High School. He attended DePauw University for two years before entering the U.S. Navy.

During World War II, he served as Lieutenant Commander and was a pilot.

When he returned to Greene County, he met and married the former Lula Mae Street. The couple had 60 years together before her death in September 2007.

Ken Robertson, who operates Ken's Barber and Style Shop, recalls Wilson as a regular patron and called him a good friend.

"Whenever I first got married, I didn't have much money and I tell you what, he done so many nice things for me to help me out as a young married couple," Robertson said. "If the people in Bloomfield only knew the things he had done that he didn't want anybody to know about. Poor people and people that had some age on them, if their furnace wouldn't work or they needed a new furnace he took care of it. There was so many things like that, that he done.

"It's a big loss for the community. There wasn't a nicer man that ever walked in Bloomfield. There wasn't a nicer man than Walter Wilson. You know he just did so many things for the town like fixing pumps and stuff like that and never charged them anything for that I'm sure. He was just a good man."

Robertson said for many years he always tried to host a small birthday gathering every year for Wilson at his barbershop.

"It seemed like that pleased him awful well," the veteran barber added.

Wilson was active in several community organizations.

He belonged to the Bloomfield First Christian Church, Bloomfield Odd Fellows 457, Solsberry Masonic Lodge 411, Indianapolis Murat Shriners, Bloomington York Rite, Fraternal Order of Police, American Legion Post 196, Eastern Star 538, Old Newberry Vets Club, Crane Toastmasters Club and was currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Bloomfield Housing Authority.

He was retired from NSWC Crane after years of working as an engineer in boiler operations.

Wilson is survived by three sons -- Michael and Mark Wilson of Bloomfield and Charles; as well as six granddaughters.

Funeral service will be 2 p.m. on Sunday at the First Christian Church in Bloomfield. Burial will be in Dishman Cemetery in rural Springville.

Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. on Saturday at Jenkins & Sons Funeral Home in Bloomfield and one-hour prior to services Sunday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, Wilson asked before his death that any memorial contributions be made to the Susan G. Komen Cancer Foundation in care of Jenkins & Sons Funeral Home in hopes that others might be spared from the terrible illness that claimed his life.