Grandpa Wilson
"Ernest Benton Wilson"
Grandpa was the eighth of ten children born to Frank & Fannie (Kinslow) Wilson. He was also the last child from this family born in Missouri, when he was about six months old the family moved to Oklahoma, where his two youngest sisters were born. Grandpa was nine years old when his older brothers Alac, William & Orval signed their draft papers for World War I, unfortunately William or as Grandpa called him "Billy" never made it back home.
In 1930 he met Grandma (Vernie Elzora Stacy) and married her on November 22, 1932 in Alamosa, Colorado. From there they went to Madill, Oklahoma and then on to Davis. On October 16, 1940 Grandpa registered with The Selective Service for World War II in Lubbock, Texas. Throughout his life Grandpa wore many hats. In Lubbock, Texas he worked for Burn's Furniture & Mattress from 1938 to 1941, TJ Gill Furniture Co & was a Chauffer in 1942, Lindsey Theatres in 1943 and he worked for Tech Cafe.
Although he was never drafted, the family rode a Military Troop Train from Lubbock into California. They got off in the Monterey area and they were not the only civilians on board. They arrived in time for Thanksgiving of 1943. While in Monterey Grandpa was a Civilian Firefighter for Fort Ord Military Base, he also worked for one of the canneries on cannery row.
The family then moved to El Nido in Merced County, where Grandpa operated the milk dairy for G.D. Bliss. They moved onto Pendleton's Place, it was a dairy also and soon after that he moved his family to Fresno.
Grandpa had been partners with a man, owning Hollis and Mack Furniture in Fresno, California and on December 18, 1948 Grandpa became the sole owner of the business. This store was located at 5186 Ventura Street. I'm not sure how long they kept that store open but, it couldn't have been very long because he went to work for B & B Painter through The Santa Fe Railroad. Grandpa worked there until he got lead poisoning from the paint, which was about 1960.
Grandpa and Grandma reopened the store and named it Wilson's Furniture and Appliance. The grand opening was at 3620 Ventura Street in Fresno. They moved to two other locations on Ventura Street each time to a larger store (Actually the location at 3840 Ventura practically burned to the ground in a fire on October 11, 1962) Then finally changed locations to Belmont Street, this store had a loft with a long ramp that us kids loved to play on.
Grandpa passed away on December 17, 1983, in Fresno, California and he was survived by his Wife Vernie, 6 Children, 17 Grandchildren, 1 Great Grandson, 3 Sisters - Bessie Sivils, Minnie Hoover, Winnie Buchanan and many Nieces & Nephews.
He is missed by us all. We love you Gramps.
He loved to fish, shoot pool, play cards and spending time with his family.
Contributed By
Bridgette Wilson
May 12, 2011
Grandfather of
Baby Boy Roberts 1956-1956
Father in-law of
Johnie David Robbins Jr.
"Ernest Benton Wilson"
Grandpa was the eighth of ten children born to Frank & Fannie (Kinslow) Wilson. He was also the last child from this family born in Missouri, when he was about six months old the family moved to Oklahoma, where his two youngest sisters were born. Grandpa was nine years old when his older brothers Alac, William & Orval signed their draft papers for World War I, unfortunately William or as Grandpa called him "Billy" never made it back home.
In 1930 he met Grandma (Vernie Elzora Stacy) and married her on November 22, 1932 in Alamosa, Colorado. From there they went to Madill, Oklahoma and then on to Davis. On October 16, 1940 Grandpa registered with The Selective Service for World War II in Lubbock, Texas. Throughout his life Grandpa wore many hats. In Lubbock, Texas he worked for Burn's Furniture & Mattress from 1938 to 1941, TJ Gill Furniture Co & was a Chauffer in 1942, Lindsey Theatres in 1943 and he worked for Tech Cafe.
Although he was never drafted, the family rode a Military Troop Train from Lubbock into California. They got off in the Monterey area and they were not the only civilians on board. They arrived in time for Thanksgiving of 1943. While in Monterey Grandpa was a Civilian Firefighter for Fort Ord Military Base, he also worked for one of the canneries on cannery row.
The family then moved to El Nido in Merced County, where Grandpa operated the milk dairy for G.D. Bliss. They moved onto Pendleton's Place, it was a dairy also and soon after that he moved his family to Fresno.
Grandpa had been partners with a man, owning Hollis and Mack Furniture in Fresno, California and on December 18, 1948 Grandpa became the sole owner of the business. This store was located at 5186 Ventura Street. I'm not sure how long they kept that store open but, it couldn't have been very long because he went to work for B & B Painter through The Santa Fe Railroad. Grandpa worked there until he got lead poisoning from the paint, which was about 1960.
Grandpa and Grandma reopened the store and named it Wilson's Furniture and Appliance. The grand opening was at 3620 Ventura Street in Fresno. They moved to two other locations on Ventura Street each time to a larger store (Actually the location at 3840 Ventura practically burned to the ground in a fire on October 11, 1962) Then finally changed locations to Belmont Street, this store had a loft with a long ramp that us kids loved to play on.
Grandpa passed away on December 17, 1983, in Fresno, California and he was survived by his Wife Vernie, 6 Children, 17 Grandchildren, 1 Great Grandson, 3 Sisters - Bessie Sivils, Minnie Hoover, Winnie Buchanan and many Nieces & Nephews.
He is missed by us all. We love you Gramps.
He loved to fish, shoot pool, play cards and spending time with his family.
Contributed By
Bridgette Wilson
May 12, 2011
Grandfather of
Baby Boy Roberts 1956-1956
Father in-law of
Johnie David Robbins Jr.
Grandpa Wilson
"Ernest Benton Wilson"
Grandpa was the eighth of ten children born to Frank & Fannie (Kinslow) Wilson. He was also the last child from this family born in Missouri, when he was about six months old the family moved to Oklahoma, where his two youngest sisters were born. Grandpa was nine years old when his older brothers Alac, William & Orval signed their draft papers for World War I, unfortunately William or as Grandpa called him "Billy" never made it back home.
In 1930 he met Grandma (Vernie Elzora Stacy) and married her on November 22, 1932 in Alamosa, Colorado. From there they went to Madill, Oklahoma and then on to Davis. On October 16, 1940 Grandpa registered with The Selective Service for World War II in Lubbock, Texas. Throughout his life Grandpa wore many hats. In Lubbock, Texas he worked for Burn's Furniture & Mattress from 1938 to 1941, TJ Gill Furniture Co & was a Chauffer in 1942, Lindsey Theatres in 1943 and he worked for Tech Cafe.
Although he was never drafted, the family rode a Military Troop Train from Lubbock into California. They got off in the Monterey area and they were not the only civilians on board. They arrived in time for Thanksgiving of 1943. While in Monterey Grandpa was a Civilian Firefighter for Fort Ord Military Base, he also worked for one of the canneries on cannery row.
The family then moved to El Nido in Merced County, where Grandpa operated the milk dairy for G.D. Bliss. They moved onto Pendleton's Place, it was a dairy also and soon after that he moved his family to Fresno.
Grandpa had been partners with a man, owning Hollis and Mack Furniture in Fresno, California and on December 18, 1948 Grandpa became the sole owner of the business. This store was located at 5186 Ventura Street. I'm not sure how long they kept that store open but, it couldn't have been very long because he went to work for B & B Painter through The Santa Fe Railroad. Grandpa worked there until he got lead poisoning from the paint, which was about 1960.
Grandpa and Grandma reopened the store and named it Wilson's Furniture and Appliance. The grand opening was at 3620 Ventura Street in Fresno. They moved to two other locations on Ventura Street each time to a larger store (Actually the location at 3840 Ventura practically burned to the ground in a fire on October 11, 1962) Then finally changed locations to Belmont Street, this store had a loft with a long ramp that us kids loved to play on.
Grandpa passed away on December 17, 1983, in Fresno, California and he was survived by his Wife Vernie, 6 Children, 17 Grandchildren, 1 Great Grandson, 3 Sisters - Bessie Sivils, Minnie Hoover, Winnie Buchanan and many Nieces & Nephews.
He is missed by us all. We love you Gramps.
He loved to fish, shoot pool, play cards and spending time with his family.
Contributed By
Bridgette Wilson
May 12, 2011
Grandfather of
Baby Boy Roberts 1956-1956
Father in-law of
Johnie David Robbins Jr.
"Ernest Benton Wilson"
Grandpa was the eighth of ten children born to Frank & Fannie (Kinslow) Wilson. He was also the last child from this family born in Missouri, when he was about six months old the family moved to Oklahoma, where his two youngest sisters were born. Grandpa was nine years old when his older brothers Alac, William & Orval signed their draft papers for World War I, unfortunately William or as Grandpa called him "Billy" never made it back home.
In 1930 he met Grandma (Vernie Elzora Stacy) and married her on November 22, 1932 in Alamosa, Colorado. From there they went to Madill, Oklahoma and then on to Davis. On October 16, 1940 Grandpa registered with The Selective Service for World War II in Lubbock, Texas. Throughout his life Grandpa wore many hats. In Lubbock, Texas he worked for Burn's Furniture & Mattress from 1938 to 1941, TJ Gill Furniture Co & was a Chauffer in 1942, Lindsey Theatres in 1943 and he worked for Tech Cafe.
Although he was never drafted, the family rode a Military Troop Train from Lubbock into California. They got off in the Monterey area and they were not the only civilians on board. They arrived in time for Thanksgiving of 1943. While in Monterey Grandpa was a Civilian Firefighter for Fort Ord Military Base, he also worked for one of the canneries on cannery row.
The family then moved to El Nido in Merced County, where Grandpa operated the milk dairy for G.D. Bliss. They moved onto Pendleton's Place, it was a dairy also and soon after that he moved his family to Fresno.
Grandpa had been partners with a man, owning Hollis and Mack Furniture in Fresno, California and on December 18, 1948 Grandpa became the sole owner of the business. This store was located at 5186 Ventura Street. I'm not sure how long they kept that store open but, it couldn't have been very long because he went to work for B & B Painter through The Santa Fe Railroad. Grandpa worked there until he got lead poisoning from the paint, which was about 1960.
Grandpa and Grandma reopened the store and named it Wilson's Furniture and Appliance. The grand opening was at 3620 Ventura Street in Fresno. They moved to two other locations on Ventura Street each time to a larger store (Actually the location at 3840 Ventura practically burned to the ground in a fire on October 11, 1962) Then finally changed locations to Belmont Street, this store had a loft with a long ramp that us kids loved to play on.
Grandpa passed away on December 17, 1983, in Fresno, California and he was survived by his Wife Vernie, 6 Children, 17 Grandchildren, 1 Great Grandson, 3 Sisters - Bessie Sivils, Minnie Hoover, Winnie Buchanan and many Nieces & Nephews.
He is missed by us all. We love you Gramps.
He loved to fish, shoot pool, play cards and spending time with his family.
Contributed By
Bridgette Wilson
May 12, 2011
Grandfather of
Baby Boy Roberts 1956-1956
Father in-law of
Johnie David Robbins Jr.
Inscription
In God's Loving Care
Family Members
Siblings
