John David Wilson, the son of Joe L. and Nellene Ballinger Wilson, was born on September 22, 1948, in the Saint John's Hospital, Springfield, Missouri.

John, his parents, and his two brothers were longtime residents of Pleasant Hope, Missouri. As a child John attended the Pleasant Hope Baptist Church, where he was baptized as a teenager. John graduated from the Pleasant Hope High School in 1966. He attended Southwest Missouri State University for two years before moving to Louisville, Kentucky to attend The Kentucky School of Mortuary Science, graduating with honors on August 29, 1970.

Following graduation, John returned to Springfield, Missouri to begin his professional career and complete a 12 month apprenticeship with the Klingner Mortuary.

During John's apprenticeship he attended the First Baptist Church of Springfield and met Miss Carolyn Mahan. They became engaged to be married in September of 1971. At the beginning of October 1971 John received military orders to report to active duty for training with the US Army Reserve. He was fortunate to receive his mortuary license before his military service departure.

John and Carolyn were married on April 29, 1972. To their union were born two sons, John William in 1976 and David Nathan in 1980.

John and Carolyn purchased the Daniel Funeral Homes of Ash Grove and Walnut Grove, Missouri in April of 1973 and served those communities for the next 44 years. From the beginning, both communities welcomed and accepted the Wilson family as their own. With this love and support the Wilson family quickly established a new home and a strong relationship that continues to this day.

When John received the diagnosis of ALS in November of 2015, he and Carolyn realized the need to transition into retirement, which they did in June of 2016.

John is survived by his wife Carolyn of the home, one son David "Nathan" and wife Carrie and grandson William "Liam". John was preceded in death by one son, John William "Billy" in 2004.

Also surviving John are two brothers Fred Wilson of Odessa, Missouri and Jim Wilson and wife Jeannie of Springfield, Missouri, one niece and four nephews as well as cousins and many, many friends.

Visitation will begin 2:00PM, Sunday, June 4, 2017 at Wilson-Griffin Funeral Home, Ash Grove, Missouri.  Funeral Services will be 2:00PM, Monday, June 5, 2017 at First Christian Church, Ash Grove, Missouri with burial to follow in Maple Park Cemetery, Springfield, Missouri.

Memorial contributions can be made to the ALS Association and may be left or mailed to the funeral home.

"At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them" …Laurance Binyon