Obituary

Glenn E. Wilson Jr., 93, of Patterson Township, passed away peacefully on Wednesday April 16, 2025 in the comfort of his own home with his son Mark by his side.

Born in New Brighton, on July 31, 1931, he was the son of the late Glenn E. and Iva (Folk) Wilson Sr.

Being the youngest in the family, they all called him “Bug”. At ten years old he received his first guitar from his parents, and he started to learn how to play. He has been playing guitar and singing ever since. When he was in high school he was at an assembly and when he was done playing, the students would not go back to class. The principal had to come and plead with them, asking if he played one more would you go back to class?  From there a few years later he joined the United States Navy in 1952. As his career kept going, he used to play music at the officers’ functions. While in the service he was stationed in Boston, Massachusetts, and he met up with Wheeling Jamboree Star, Toby Stroud. Glenn continued to gig with him during his stay in Boston. He then was stationed down in Norfolk, Virginia where he was a lifeguard and continued playing at night. During this time, in 1955, he married Mary Louise. On his tour, they both decided to go to California where he hung out at the Palomino club in Bakersfield, there he met up with Wynn Stewart and Buck Owens, who were nobody at the time and sat waiting to get called up to sing a song with the band. He later left California to go back to Beaver County to be with family and start one himself. He played for multiple country bands in the Beaver Valley. Throughout his years after the service, he worked as a steel worker at B&W. Most recently, we got together with our friend Wes Hommer and recorded some old songs that he has been playing for years, lovingly known as the “Kitchen Tapes”.  

In addition to his parents, Glenn is preceded in death by his wife, Mary Louise (Field) Wilson; brothers, Bernard and Dale Wilson; sisters, Martha Wilson and Joann Jerome; and in-laws, Ray (Donna) Field and Dorothy (John) Dzan.

Glenn is survived by his sons, Mark (Debbie) Wilson and Brian (Marybeth) Wilson; grandchildren, Brisa Wilson and Luken Wilson; and several relatives and friends.

At Glenn’s request all services were private.

The GABAUER-LUTTON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, Inc-117 Blackhawk Road, Beaver Falls, PA 15010, was honored to care for Glenn and his family.