Bill Wilson

William "Bill" Wilson was born at home near Longmont, Colorado on October 14, 1941, and passed away on March 7, 2026, in Wray, Colorado. He was the second son of Robert Clyde and Edna Mae Wilson.

Bill spent his childhood in the Longmont area, where hard work was simply a way of life. He worked on farms and took odd jobs to help his family, and he told the story of finishing a shift at the A&W Drive-In, heading straight to haul hay, grabbing a few hours of sleep, rising at 4:30 a.m. to milk cows, and still making it to school. That work ethic never left him.

A proud member of the Happy Aggies 4-H Club from 1952 to 1959, Bill threw himself into the program with characteristic enthusiasm. What began with a Hereford steer eventually grew to include projects in foods, chicken, tractor, forestry, pig breeding and fattening, sheep breeding and fattening, beef breeding, junior leadership, electric, corn, and barley. In 1958, he was elected State 4-H President — an achievement he carefully documented in a binder his children and grandchildren have treasured ever since.

High school found Bill just as busy. He was active in FFA, earning the FFA/FHA Sweetheart King title his senior year, and was involved in the Victory Grange, the 4-H Square Dance Team, Junior Red Cross, wrestling, and baseball. His love of baseball carried well into adulthood and was passed down to his sons and grandson. He took equal pride in wrestling, and later in watching his son and grandson compete on the mat. Bill graduated from Brighton High School with the class of 1959.

He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, graduating in 1963. With farming and 4-H in his blood, he put his degree to immediate use, taking a position as an Agricultural Extension agent in Rocky Ford while also joining the Army National Guard.

On September 6, 1964, Bill married Judith Eppinger. The couple welcomed daughter Deanne Lorae and son Terry Lee while living in Rocky Ford, and in 1968, Bill moved his growing family to Burlington, Colorado, where he launched the tax preparation business he would run for the rest of his life. Daughter Kimber Lynae was born in Burlington, and after the family made their final move to Wray, son Erik Leo completed the picture.

With both Bill and Judy rooted in 4-H, it was only natural that all four children dove into the program — extending Bill's involvement by another 15 years. He taught the boys everything they needed to know about their animals, and his well-known sweet tooth was more than satisfied by whatever the girls pulled out of the oven.

While Bill and Judy’s union didn’t last, they remained friends until the end. They showed their children that a parent’s love doesn’t end with divorce. They co-parented before it became cool.

Bill's tax practice grew right alongside his family. Serving clients across the tri-state area from offices in Burlington, Wray, Benkelman, and St. Francis — and making countless house calls — he built something that was about far more than numbers. His deep knowledge of agriculture and his genuine love of farming helped countless farmers manage their finances with confidence, and many of those clients became lifelong friends.

In 1990, Bill fulfilled a lifelong dream by purchasing the farm in Hillrose where he would spend the rest of his days. He worked that land for many years before entrusting much of it to his dear friend and neighbor Brian Pabst.

It was also in Hillrose that Bill shared his life with Elaine Baudino, his partner of nearly 40 years. They built a home together, and each became a cherished bonus parent and grandparent to the other's children and grandchildren. Their bond was something special — steady, warm, and laced with humor right up to the end. They liked to joke that between his sharp mind and her capable body, the two of them made one pretty solid person.

Beyond his many accomplishments, Bill was a reader, a tinkerer, a builder, and — perhaps most notably — a collector. A collector of collections, to be precise. Why have one of something when five or ten would do just as well?

Bill leaves behind a life well and fully lived — marked by hard work, deep loyalty, and a sharp wit that kept everyone around him on their toes. He had a gift for taking care of people, even when he was pretending not to. He will be dearly missed,

Bill is survived by his love, Elaine Baudino; Bill’s family: children Terry Wilson, Kimber (Tim) Householder, and Erik (Katie) Wilson; son-in-law Eldon Norris; grandchildren Sam Norris, Chantal (Adrian) Norris, Dan (Daelynn) Norris, Eden Wilson, and Kavan Wilson; great-grandchildren Casey Norris and Daniel Norris; brother Bob (Judy) Wilson, sister Karen (Mike) Floeter, and sister-in-law Michelle Wilson; nieces Kelly (Paul) McMahon, Tracy (David) Shreiner, Kristen (Chris) Paquet, Catherine (Ryan) Bretag, Valentina Anghel, John (Monika) Crannell, and Annie (Pat) McGinnis. Elaine’s family: children Renee (Rollins) Loflin, Craig Baudino, and Rejan (Michael) Riccotone; grandchildren Johnny (Zoey) Loflin, Allie Loflin, Bailey Riccotone, Connor Riccotone, Brock Baudino, Bricelyn Baudino; and great-grandchildren Isla and Jack Loflin; sisters Jeannie Nanninga and Bernice (Larry) Seib; nephews Daniel Nanninga, Mark (Tammy) Seib, and Michael Seib; nieces Michelle (Brian) Foley and Marlo (Steve) Lujan; and many very loved cousins, grand nieces and nephews, and friends.

Bill was preceded in death by his daughter Deanne Norris; brother Richard Wilson; parents Robert Clyde and Edna Mae Wilson; his step-father Elihue Tucker; and Elaine’s brother-in-law Don Nanninga.

Celebration of life will be held on March 13, 2026, at 2pm at Wray United Methodist Church in Wray, CO. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Bill Wilson Memorial Fund at Wray State Bank, Brush State Bank, or Windsor State Bank or a donation to a charity of your choice in Bill’s memory.