Freestone County, Texas
Obituaries




The Mexia News


Raymond Franklin Wilson (1926-2011)
  Raymond Franklin Wilson was born December 13, 1926, and died August 8, 2011.
Franklin Wilson’s life touched and blessed many people.   His children, 
grandchildren, brother, sister, great-grandchildren, family members, friends, 
colleagues, and strangers he befriended and offered comfort,  have been richly 
blessed to have experienced his love and to have learned so much from this 
prodigious man.
  While it is impossible to truly articulate the scope of one’s life, his son 
Patrick Harlan Malone beautifully articulated some of Frank’s exceptional 
traits and his pilgrimage on this earth: 
 “If you are reading this letter, it means that I, for whatever reason am 
unable to attend Papa’s Funeral.  Please accept my heartfelt condolences to you
all, as I well know that Frank Wilson, known to me as Papa, has had a wonderful
impact in your life just as he had in mine.
  For all of us that had the opportunity to know Papa, it was evident that he 
was a devout Christian, a point that defined him all his days.  He was a 
pillar of righteousness and humility in his family and community.  I cannot 
remember a morning that he started without reading the Bible and praying over 
his family and community and whatever else God laid on his heart to mention. 
He lived it, too.  
  Unlike anyone I have ever met, Papa lived up to the Christian ethics he studied
so diligently.  I also knew him as one of the hardest working men I ever met. 
His work ethic set the standard for everyone around him although, no one I 
knew was able to keep up with him on any project.  He always said, “Don’t 
start something unless you are going to finish it.” Those words were something
he demonstrated time after time.
  Small or large, no task he set out to accomplish remained unfinished.  
  Fortunate for me, as my father, he was able to pass along some of these admirable 
traits which, without him, I never would have had the opportunity to experience.  
I believe many of us can say the same thing.  He set a righteous example for us 
all.
  If you know Papa, you also will remember his sense of humor, his laugh and his 
smile. He most often used himself as the punch line for his jokes, most of which 
were some story of a horse throwing him, a mild trespass to recover a poached 
deer, or some cowboy humor of sorts. His humility stopped him short of ever 
bragging. But, I myself have witnessed many counts of his bravery that sent 
chills up my spine.
 Once, I saw him jump into a shanty of a small pen and whip a wild Charolaise 
bull into submission. The bull lunged at Papa time after time attempting to 
trample him. Each time, Papa just sidestepped the charging bull that must have 
weighed over a ton and with each pass Papa smacked him in the head with a 
small horse whip until the bull just decided enough was enough.
  That was Papa, and no wild bull was going to keep us mending fence forever if 
Papa could put a stop to it…and he did.  He always finished what he started.
  For all of you who are able to gather here, we will all miss Papa and all 
that he contributed to our lives.  
  Frank Wilson set the standard for all of us as men.  His example more than 
his words enriched us all … man, woman, and child.
  I do not pretend to be worthy to stand in judgment in any way. But, in my 
thoughts, I can see him approach the throne of God and hear the words we all 
strive to hear…”Well done good and faithful servant.”  Frank Wilson finished 
what he started.”
  Please join us in person, or in spirit, for the celebration of Frank’s life:
Family Visitation -Wednesday August 10, 6-8 p.m. at Porter Funeral Home Chapel 
in Wortham, Texas.
  Funeral service Thursday August 11, 10 a.m. at Porter Chapel Wortham

  Graveside service with Military Honors immediately following at Wortham 
Cemetery.
  Thank you for your prayers and support for Daddy during his life and now as we 
celebrate his new life in the presence of God. 

With gratitude, 
Barbara and Beckie