Robert Louis Wilson's Obituary
Robert Louis Wilson passed away in Houston, Texas, on Thursday, April 16th, 2026, at the age of 71. He is preceded in death by his parents, Flavel and Reta (Chamberlain) Wilson; brother, Calvin Wilson; sisters, Lois Stratton and Nila Beth Wilson. Left to cherish Robert’s memory are his wife of more than 50 years, Shirley (Clark) Wilson; son, Nathaniel E. Wilson; daughter, Rachael Holden and husband Curtis; sister, Wynoma Wilson; grandchildren, Joel Holden and wife Melanie, Anna Holden, Gwendolyn Shillings and husband Waylon, and Clark Holden; along with a host of many other family and friends.
Robert was born the fourth of five children. When he was elementary aged, his family moved to the small town of Santa Rosa, TX just outside of Harlingen in the Rio Grande Valley. He had many fond memories of growing up including helping with family livestock, fishing and swimming in the Rio Grande River. His parents became members of the Church of Christ after the move to Santa Rosa and Robert was baptized a few years later. Robert loved music growing up and could play many musical instruments by ear. As a teenager he led singing at Church and was sponsored by his congregation to attend the Texas Normal Singing School in Sabinal, Texas where he met well-known Christian songwriter Austin Taylor, who inspired him to write Worship songs as an adult. He played the trumpet in high school and the violin with the Valley Symphony Orchestra. After graduating Santa Rosa High School in 1972 he attended Pan-American University for a year. He then moved to Houston to take a job with NASA.
Houston was definitely more urban than where he grew up, and other than going to work and Church, he at first never ventured anywhere where he couldn’t see Loop 610. Shortly after moving to Houston, Robert met Shirley Clark whose family attended the Kerby Avenue Church of Christ in Jacinto City. Robert and Shirley met, dated and married in three months and remained married for 50 years. Robert and Shirley lived in the Cloverleaf neighborhood in North Shore for 25 years and raised their children there. Robert went back to college and earned an associate’s degree in management from Lee College. Robert worked for Brown and Root for over 20 years and was a Master Electrician before retiring on disability in 2004, following a serious bout with Rectal Cancer.
Robert and Shirley began attending Westside Church of Christ in Pearland in 1999 (moving to Pearland shortly thereafter) and Robert served as an Elder there for over 20 years. He spent many happy hours fishing along the Gulf Coast with his father-in-law (Eugene Clark), his son (Nathaniel), grandchildren and his friend and Brother Gary Jenkins. Robert also loved wood working and working with a scroll saw and ran Wilson Woodworks for many years. Robert was proud of his children and grandchildren. He took great pleasure in their academic and musical accomplishments, but mostly importantly in their Faith in Christ. The last 28 years of life were beset by serious health struggles but throughout all these he held fast to his Faith in Christ and his belief in a better future here and ultimately in Heaven. Memorial contributions may be made to Church of Christ Nigeria.
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