Oswald Wilson
6 August 1931 – 23 August 2025

Oswald Wilson peacefully passed away August 23, 2025, in Creve Coeur, Missouri, at the age of 94. Born August 6, 1931, in Cullen Township, Pulaski County, Missouri, he lived a long and multifaceted life marked by service, entrepreneurship, and devotion to family and friends. Ossie is survived by his only child Kerry Jayne, her husband Daniel Kirkland and their son Matthew Rodion Kirkland. He is preceded in death by his wife Josephine H. Matthews, his parents George O'Brien and Mary Magen Wilson and his eight brothers and sisters.  He was a baptized Lutheran.

The family was from Maplewood, but before he was born they moved to an acreage in Cullen Township to survive the depression by cutting and selling lumber, hunting, growing their own food and having an orchard. Ossie was born there in a two room tar paper shack with loose plank floors. He was the second youngest of his siblings. His father later built a real house for the family, however, their farm was taken by eminent domain when Fort Leonard Wood was built. Ossie's father bought and ran a café and gas stop with four cabins called Midway Café & Cabins on Route 66 between Union and Stanton. When Ossie was 13, his father died unexpectedly and Ossie had to grow up fast and be the man of the house for his mom and sisters since his brothers were already away in the military. The family moved to University City a couple years later where Ossie graduated from University City High School.

Oswald volunteered to join the Air Force in 1951 and was stationed at Manston AFB in England as an SAC drafting clerk. There he met his beloved wife-to-be Josephine Matthews on a blind date under the London Victoria Station clock. He said he fell in love at first sight. Following his military service, the married couple returned to St. Louis, Missouri where he bought his brother Walter Wilson's restaurant in U-City on Olive and ran it for 17 years. Later he transitioned into catering and restaurant equipment sales. His final occupation was as a realtor for Gundaker/Coldwell Banker.

May Ossie's memory bring comfort to those who knew him and serve as a lasting tribute to a life well lived. His legacy lives on through the many lives he touched.

Please join us for visitation from 1-3pm and remembrance of life at 3pm on Sunday, August 31, 2025 at Ortmann-Stipanovich Funeral Home, 12444 Olive Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63141.

The following day, Monday, September 1, 2025, Oswald's ashes will be interred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery at 9am. All are welcome. We will leave the funeral home at 8:30am if you want to join the procession.

Ortmann Stipanovich Funeral Home
www.osfuneralhomes.com