Paul Ivan Wilson, 88, of Odessa, Missouri, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 15, 2026, at home surrounded by the love of his family.
Visitation will be held Thursday, February 19, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Ralph O. Jones Funeral Home, 306 S. 2nd St., Odessa, MO 64076 (816-633-5524). A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, February 20, 2026, at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Greenton Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or Shriners Children’s. Memories of Paul and condolences for his family may be left at www.LedfordFamilyFH.com or on our Facebook page.
Paul was born April 2, 1937, in Oak Grove, Missouri, to Samuel and Pearl (Mansell) Wilson. On June 7, 1953, he married the love of his life, Rosalie (Hanks) Wilson, in Odessa, Missouri. They shared many years together before her passing in 2006. On June 16, 2015, Paul was blessed to find love again when he married Marlene (Goff) Murry-Wilson in Odessa.
Paul was a hardworking man who took pride in providing for his family. He began his career with General Motors, later served as head of maintenance at the Odessa nursing home, and spent many dedicated years as a lineman for the City of Odessa. He eventually retired after more than a decade with the Lafayette County Special Road District. Even outside of his regular jobs, Paul liked to keep busy – trimming trees and operating his pole barn business, Down Home Barns, where his strong hands and steady work were well known.
He was a faithful member of Odessa Restoration Branch. In his younger years, Paul and his brothers shared a love of music and played together in a band, with Paul on harmonica and guitar. Music remained one of the many simple joys he carried throughout life.
Above all else, Paul loved his family. He treasured time spent visiting, laughing, and sharing stories. He found happiness in the little things – woodworking in his shop, searching for four-leaf clovers, baking and proudly sharing his famous lemon cake, cookies, and pies, and collecting aluminum cans to donate the proceeds to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. His quiet generosity and servant’s heart left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him.
Paul is survived by his loving wife, Marlene Murry-Wilson of Odessa, Missouri; four children, Cindy Gum, Jay Dei Wilson, Brian “Buck” Wilson, and Patty (Kent) Corbett, all of Odessa; six grandchildren, David Gum II, Anthony Smith, Heather Wilson, Haley Beaird, Nicky Knowles, and Luke Knowles; 15 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Ray Allen (Carol) Peet of Richmond, Missouri; and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and dear friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Samuel Wilson; his mother, Pearl Peet; his first wife, Rosalie Wilson; his infant son, Larry Joe Wilson; a grandson, Bo Knowles; a son-in-law, Gary Penney; three sisters, Elenore Raines, Shirley Roberts, and Sharon Bray; and two brothers, Lawrence “Buck” Wilson and Gene Wilson.
Source: KMZU, The Farm
