Gail Wardleigh Wilson

Gail Wardleigh Wilson, 90, passed away Sunday, January 4, 2026, in Comanche, Texas.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 am to noon on Saturday, January 17 at Stephenville Funeral Home in the Family Center.

Gail Wardleigh “Ward” Wilson was born August 29, 1935, in Mercer’s Gap to Thomas Ransom and Flossie Crane Wilson. The youngest of eight siblings, he grew up in a very close knit family where everyone did their part to support the farm.

He attended schools in Sidney and Comanche until his senior year of high school when the family moved to Stephenville. He graduated from Stephenville High School in 1954. He married Norma Jean Golightly of Stephenville on April 4, 1958. He commuted to Lockheed in Fort Worth for 43 years - a sacrifice he was willing to make so that he and Norma could raise their three children in small town Stephenville.

Gail served in the US Army Reserves and the Texas National Guard. He received training as a cook which started a life long love of cooking and baking. Sunday dinners and holidays were always special with favorite family dishes, homemade rolls, and vegetables from their big garden. Big homemade tubs of peanut brittle were a favorite of his family and friends.

Throughout his life, Gail enjoyed many hobbies including singing, playing guitar, fishing, photography and woodworking. He loved to photograph birds, butterflies, and anything interesting in his yard. His last hobby was rock tumbling. The thing he loved best about this hobby was giving the polished rocks away. He gave them to visitors, carried them in his pocket to share around town, and knew details about them all.

In retirement, he supported Norma’s love of genealogy. They traveled many miles to courthouses, libraries, and cemeteries to discover the history of their ancestors. He was a sixth generation Texan and a member of The Sons of the Republic of Texas.

A story teller at heart, he loved to share family history, a very detailed movie synopsis, or every play of the Yellow Jackets football game. Gail was a huge Yellow Jacket fan and attended football games for many years. He loved corny jokes and his dry sense of humor remained no matter the struggles he faced.

Survivors include his daughter Robin Lavonne and husband Ricky Tatum, son John Earl Wilson, son Stephen Ward and wife Karen Dowell Wilson, all of Stephenville; grandson Luke Harrison and wife Lauren Tatum of Arkansas, granddaughter Courtney Jean and husband Eaisson O’Brien of Cleburne, granddaughter Hannah Joan Wilson of Fort Worth; and great-grandson Nathaniel Han Tatum.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Norma Jean, six brothers and two sisters.

Tribute Video for Gail Wardleigh Wilson: https://youtu.be/xbcj6m693XQ