Archer Wilson

Archer Wilson died suddenly on Jan. 29, 2007, in Littleton, Colo., following a stroke. He is remembered fondly by his children for his fierce, unwavering support of their mother through years of declining health.

Born Nov. 18, 1918, in Victoria, Texas, Archer was the seventh of nine children born to Archer and Josephine Wilson.

He graduated from high school in Austin, Texas, and was a student in electrical engineering at the University of Texas before being drafted into military service in 1942. With the rank of 1st Lieutenant, he served as a U.S. Army anti-aircraft unit commander in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany.

He married Florence Davis in 1942. Settling in Austin after the war, they raised five children. He and Florence relocated to Ruidoso, N.M., in 1974, where they owned and operated the Roadrunner Gift Shop. Following retirement, Archer and Florence returned to Austin to live near family, but spent summers in Glacier National Park.

They relocated to Whitefish in 2000 to be near their son.

In 2003, following Florence's death, Archer moved to Littleton to be near his daughter.

He was preceded in death by his wife Florence and son George, who is survived by his wife Margaret, of Pflugerville, Texas, and their sons James and Christopher.

Archer is survived by four children, nine grandchildren and three great grandsons — David and wife Betsy, of Portland, Ore., their daughter Holley Mayville, of Charlotte, N.C., and her two sons James and Jack; Jim and wife Amy, of Austin, Texas, their sons Carlton, of Yuma, Ariz., and his son Tobin, and Tommy, of Austin; Peggy Cannon and husband Jim, of Denver, Colo., and her two sons Jeff and Corey; John and wife Marjorie, of Whitefish, and their daughters Emily and Maggie. He is also survived by his sisters Virginia Olson, of Houston, Texas, and Josephine Rawlins, of Edinburg, Texas.

Archer's ashes will be interred beside Florence's in New Mexico at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Genetics Foundation Memorial Fund, The University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station - G2500, Austin TX 78712 to honor Florence's career in scientific research.

A love for flowers and nature remained with her all her life. She planted trees, landscaped her yard and beautified her surroundings until the auto-immune disease, myasthenia gravis, so weakened her body she could not work outside.

Her remains have been cremated, and a service will be held at a later date, with burial in the Whitefish Cemetery near her beloved Ronnie.