Cliff Wilson

Cliff Wilson, 94, of Gallipolis, passed away on Monday, July 16, 2018 at Holzer Assisted Living. He was born May 23, 1924 in Glassport, Pennsylvania, son of the late Harry C. and Martha Ethel Snowball Wilson. Cliff married Jean Church Wilson and she preceded him in death on October 25, 2013. Cliff was an educator, teacher and coach for over 37 years. His first love was teaching, coaching was his second. He was the first coach at North Gallia High School, coaching football, basketball and baseball and also served as principal. He coached Cadmus High School basketball for one year. Cliff coached Gallia Academy High School baseball and won 2 SEOAL championships. He was a 1943 graduate of Byesville High School. He had a Bachelor’s Degree from Rio Grande College and a Master’s Degree from Ohio University. He enjoyed golfing and fishing. He was inducted into the Gallia Academy High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009 and a 1997 inductee to the Gallia County Academic Excellence Foundation. He was a World War II Navy veteran. Cliff was a member of First Baptist Church, Gallipolis, Ohio, where he was a Deacon Emeritus and a Sunday School teacher for the John Stams Class for 45 years. Surviving are his sons, Bruce (Cindy) Wilson and Brett (Lisa) Wilson, all of Gallipolis; a son-in-law, Ed Swope of Fairborn, Ohio; seven grandchildren, Cory Wilson, Amy (Jason) Sweet, Erika (Josh) Nelson, Tim (Becca) Swope, Austin Wilson, Blake Wilson, and Callie Wilson; 7 great grandchildren. In addition to his parents and wife, Jean, Cliff was preceded in death by a daughter, Rebecca J. Swope in 2012, brothers, Lewis, Richard and David and sisters, Martha Berry and Wanda Moore. Services will be 11 A.M. Saturday, July 21, 2018 at Willis Funeral Home with Pastor Alvis Pollard officiating. Entombment will follow in the Chapel of Hope Mausoleum, Ohio Valley Memory Gardens. Friends may call on Friday, July 20, 2018 at Willis Funeral Home from 6-8 P.M. There will be military honors at the graveside by Gallia County Funeral Detail. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Cliff’s memory to Ohio Valley Christian School, 1100 Fourth Avenue, Gallipolis, OH 45631. Please visit www.willisfuneralhome.com to send e-mail condolences.