Gaylon Eugene Wilson

We celebrate the life of Gaylon Eugene Wilson, who passed peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of 13 December 2025. Gaylon grew up in north Knoxville and attended Central High School (Class of 1944). (In December of 1940, he was present when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt came to town for the dedication of the Smoke Mountain National Park.) After high school graduation, he enlisted in the Navy and forwent officer training school in order to “get in the action” as soon as possible. He served aboard the CV-31, Bon homme Richard as part of an anti-aircraft gunnery crew. He sailed along next to the USS Missouri where he saw Admiral “Bull” Halsey on a daily basis. At the surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay, he served as a guard on the gangplank to “Big Mo,” then watched the ceremony just a few yards away as the Bon Homme Richard was tied next to “Big Mo.” He returned to Tennessee and while visiting a friend who played for UT, he was introduced to the Coach, the legendary BG Robert Neyland. Coach Neyland placed him on the team and honored his service with an immediate scholarship. On January 1, 1947, he played in the Orange Bowl with the Vols. However, in spring practice, he re-injured a war time injury. Coach Neyland offered to keep him on scholarship, but he chose to enter the work force. For the next five years, he traveled around the south as a salesman for AT&T (Ma Bell) helping to establish the brand new “Yellow Pages.” In 1952, as a husband and then father of two, he again chose to make the decision to stay home and entered the field of insurance. For over forty years, he headed up the Gaylon Wilson Insurance agency in Fountain City. During that time, he and his wife, Bobbye, raised five boys and were deeply involved in First Baptist Church of Fountain City, served as the first president of the Fountain City Optimist Club, coached baseball teams, and served as the honorary “Mayor of Fountain City” and Santa Claus in the annual parade. He retired in 1990 and has spent most of his time traveling back and forth to Florida where he and Bobbye hosted many visitors in the wintertime. (His brother-in-law was two-time All American Kyle “Buddy” Cruze at UT with his roommate, Johnny Majors. Both often visited the Wilson home in then south Knoxville where Gaylon “tutored” them in football fundamentals!) He was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Bertha Wilson; his brothers, James and Glen, and his sister, Jo Proffitt; his wife, Bobbye (nee Cruze); and his son, Robert Eugene Wilson. He is survived by his brother, Donald Allen Wilson, and sister-in-law, Cartha Lynn Turner; his four sons, Jack Dykes (and Cindy) Wilson, David Scott Wilson, Stephen Bryan (and Mary Beth) Wilson, and Mark Allen (and Michelle) Wilson; fourteen grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. All services will be private. In lieu of flower, donations can be made to Central Baptist Church of Fountain City in Gaylon Wilsons name, 5364 N Broadway Knoxville, TN 37918.  Condolences may be expressed at www.mynattfh.com.