I Bern Wilson, of 1800 Wilson Lane, Malta, passed away Sunday morning, July 14, 2013 at Good Samaritan Hospital. He was born August 2, 1929 in Shock, WV. He liked to tell people he was born in Shock, raised in Shock, and still had family in Shock. He enjoyed taking friends to his birth place and telling them they would soon be in Shock. He had a rich childhood, attending a one room school, farming with horses, and listening to many a storyteller in the oral traditions of the time. His fantastic memory and the rich detail in his own storytelling along with his ability to make any joke funny were a legacy of the men and women of those days. He worked at the Parkersburg Viscose Plant that made Rayon - known as artificial silk in those days. He loved to tell the story of "accidentally" working three straight shifts once to the consternation of management. When he married June Reeder in 1955 he was working on the pipeline 16+ hours a day. He moved to Ohio with his wife June and their two small children in October of 1959. After the move they had two more boys of whom he made fun of for being Buckeyes. He also bragged that when he moved from WV to Ohio that he raised the IQ of both states. After moving to Ohio he got on with Malta Manufacturing starting on the dock unloading lumber by hand, working himself up to night shift foreman responsible for the entire factory at night. He also worked construction and planting trees. He ended his public work as a mechanic for ODOT . He was a member of AFSME, Ohio Farm Bureau and the Ohio Horse Council. He was hard working and tough as nails, but had a big, but tender, heart as big as all outdoors. He loved to pick wildflowers for his wife June and in later years they were happiest when they were able to spend time on trail rides. He farmed his whole life around his full time jobs and always planted in hope. He enjoyed horses and was proud of ability to handle to them. He loved his children and filled their childhoods with his stories and his songs and his wonderful sense of humor. He adored his grandchildren and great grandchildren and enjoyed their visits immensely. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ivan L. and Gertrude Miller Wilson, his wife of 53 years V. June Wilson, one sister and brother-in-law Eugie and Roland Mitchell, and one brother, Jay Wilson, and a step-grandson, Brett Estep. He is survived by his 3 sons: David (Janet) Wilson of Columbus, Ohio Charles (Mary Margaret) Wilson of Martinsburg, WV Wayne (Donna) Wilson of Malta, Ohio 1 daughter Carol (Dewey) Collins of Malta, Ohio 3 Grandsons - Lance (Natasha) Sinkowski Corey Wilson Levi Wilson Granddaughter - Molly (Chad) Gregg 3 Great-grandsons- Gabriel Gregg, Ivan Sinkowski, Eric Sinkowski Great-granddaughter - Bethany Gregg 3 Brothers - Jerry (Azcal) Wilson, James B (Linda) Wilson, Brooks (Carol) Wilson 1 sister Janice (James) McConkey Sisters-in-law Maxine Logue and Barbara Wilson He faced many challenges in his life and through it all he continued to out work younger men and never lost his sense of humor or his love of the outdoors. In the end he was a Christian by faith. In lieu of flowers the family requests that you make a donation to the American Heart Association Services will be held on Friday July 19, 2013 at 11:00 A.M. at the Matheney Funeral Home in McConnelsville with Pastor Harmon Thomas officiating. Burial will follow in the Pleasant Valley/Wilson Family Cemetery. Friends may call on the family on Thursday, July 18 from 5-8 P.M.