Death of Paul F. Wilson, Former Missionary to the Philippines

January 12, 1935 – October 5, 2010

January 22, 1935 – October 5, 2010

Paul F. Wilson of Daphne, Alabama,
passed away peacefully in his sleep on October 5, 2010.  An ordained minister of the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ), he served as a pastor for churches in Tennessee and
Louisiana before beginning his extensive career in ecumenical programs for
social justice and human rights.   Paul
was born in Benton Harbor, Michigan, January 22, 1935, was reared in Kansas
City, Missouri, and graduated with a B.A. degree in 1957 from Tulane
University, and a B.D. degree in 1960 from Lexington Theological Seminary.

He directed Migrant Ministries
programs in Louisiana and Florida; and, in 1973, served for ten months as
overseas staff of the Division of Overseas Ministries as staff for the National
Council of Churches working for agricultural community development in the
Philippines before imprisonment and ouster by the Marcos government.  He then established the International Human
Rights Program with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Indianapolis
in 1974. 

In 1991 Paul moved to New York to
direct the Human Rights Program for the National Council of Churches of Christ
in the USA (NCCCUSA), later becoming Director of the NCCCUSA Europe
Office.  In this capacity he focused on
humanitarian assistance in the war-torn areas of Eastern Europe, and served as
moderator of the Churches Human Rights Programme for the Implementation of the
Helsinki Final Act (Europe/USSR/Canada/USA); and, subsequently, the Conference
on Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Since Paul’s retirement in Daphne, he
had the opportunity to pursue his love for tennis and music.  He was very active in tennis clubs and won
Adult and Senior Championships in tournaments in Orange Beach, Destin, Florida,
and the Alabama State Masters Games. 
Paul was a talented tenor, singing in Musica Sacra in Mobile and soloing
with the Baldwin Pops.  He is survived by
his wife, Dede Wilson; his children, Michelle Athearn, David Wilson, and James
Wilson; five grandchildren; his brother and two sisters; along with family and
friends from this area and around the world. 
There was a Celebration of the Life of Paul Wilson for all his friends
and family on October 10.  Donations in
lieu of flowers may be sent to Musica Sacra, 7231 Carson Rd
South, Mobile, AL 36695, to Park Avenue Christian Church, 1010 Park Ave., New
York, NY 10028 or Central Christian Church, 701 N. Delaware, Indianapolis, IN
46204.

Notes of condolence may be sent to his
wife, Dede, at 905 Van Avenue, Daphne, AL 38526.