Richard K. Wilson 1934-2018

Richard K. Wilson died on the 17th of January the year of 2018 and the age of 83.  He was native of Everton, Missouri and received his undergraduate degree of Bachelor of Science from Missouri State University in 1957.  He attended law school at the University of Missouri at Columbia and he was a member of Law Review and graduated with honors. 

            Upon graduation, he became associated with the Springfield Law Firm of Ferrington and Curtis and then the formation of the Law Firm of Prewitt, Jones, Wilson, &Karchmer which was founded in 1968.  He had done a considerable amount of work for the regional office of Strout Realty, and thus in 1973 he was invited to become Vice President and General Counsel of Strout Realty, a nationwide company with over 600 offices.  Later, in 1975 he became executive Vice President and member of the Board of Directors.  Finally in 1981, he became President and Chairman of the Board of Strout Realty.  After several years, he sold the company and after a few months of travel, he returned to his first love the private practice of law.

            He was deeply involved in the starting of First City National Bank of Springfield and served on the Board of Directors.  He and John Mahaffey, another Board member, supervised the running of the bank for a period of several months, until it was subsequently sold to a bank holding company. 

            He served approximately 30 years as a board member and legal counsel to the Ozark Empire Fair in addition to other civic and charitable organizations.  He was a member of First and Calvary Presbyterian Church and Hickory Hills Country Club.  He had served in “Of Counsel” capacity with the law firm of Woolsey, Fisher, Whiteaker, and McDonnel and then later, was the co-founder of the law firm of Whiteaker & Wilson, PC. in 1995 which exists today. 

            He was pre-deceased by his first wife, Christine, and his sister, Janice Thorn, his stepdaughter Lesley Church, as well as his parents.

            He is survived by his wife, Janice, his daughters, Jennifer Cook (Richard), Lindy Fielder (Bryan), his beloved grandchildren,  Madison Telarik (Alexander), Betsy, Stephanie, and Benton Fielder, and his loving dog Annie.

            He and Janice spent many years at their home in Naples, Florida, enjoying the sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico. 

            Funeral services will be held at Gorman-Sharp Funeral Home on the Saturday 20, 2018 at 10:00 AM.