Tony Samuel Wilson, 80, of Newport News Virginia passed away in the early morning hours of Tuesday, February 18, 2025.
Tony was predeceased by his parents Thad and Hazel Wilson and his sister Doris Napier. He is survived by his daughters Kara Mabele and husband Gerald, Kami Little and husband Aaron, grandsons Jadon Wilson Mabele and Avett Little, and granddaughters Makenna Wilson Mabele and Rosemary Little. Nephew Ricky Napier, wife Dreama, and their children and grandchildren. Aunts Marie Smith Evans and Christine Wilson and many, many cousins. And Mychelle Koedyker his life partner of 16 years.
Tony was born to Thad, a shipyard worker, and Hazel, a homemaker, on December 12, 1944 in Hickory, North Carolina. Tony grew up surrounded by a large family of grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins in Burke County. Tony was brought up believing in hard work and that ideal led him to travel extensively and he had in fact lived all over the United States. In the 60s work took him to West Texas and the Oil Fields. It was there that Tony built a family and his two daughters were born. First Kara in 1979 and then Kami in 1981. Tony remained in West Texas with his family until the bottom fell out of the oil industry in the late 80s. That event caused him to begin traveling again for work. He changed careers and started working for Chicago Bridge and Iron building water towers and continued to work for that company, changing cities often, until he retired. After retiring Tony moved to Newport News, Virginia to be closer to his mother Hazel and sister Doris. He then met Mychelle and they committed to each other and spent the next 16 years together. Tony was an exceptional pool player and he competed in and won many tournaments throughout his life. His passion for pool even led him to work at Pockets Billiards during his recent retirement years. Tony was an avid student of history which played a large part in him becoming the adventurer he was throughout his life. He always wanted to see new places and learn about past events that happened there. Tony loved games of any kind and was good at them….or was he just very lucky (a family debate that lasted years). Whatever the truth was he won at almost everything he did or tried. He had a wonderful sense of humor and was very kind. He loved and was loved by his family and will be greatly missed.
The viewing will be held at 2pm on Saturday, February 22, 2025, with the Funeral Service immediately following at 3pm at Peninsula Funeral Home. 11144 Warwick Blvd., Newport News, VA 23601. A funeral service will also be held at 3pm on Sunday at Catawba Memorial Park & Funeral Home where he will be laid to rest. 3060 US Hwy 70 SE, Hickory, NC 28602.
