VAN RICHARD WILSON

Johnston City-Van Richard Wilson 76 passed away at 12:54 P.M. on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at Herrin Hospital.

Services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, March 18, 2023, at Murman & Wilson Funeral Home in Johnston City with Pastor Steve Higgs officiating. Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery of Marion. Visitation will be from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. on Saturday at the funeral home.

Van was born on October 30, 1946 in Herrin the son of John Raleigh Wilson and Evelyn (Slater) Smothers.

Van was valedictorian of his JCHS class of 1964. He attended University of Illinois where he graduated with a bachelors degree in electrical engineering. He then accepted a position with Eastman Kodak in Kingsport, Tennessee. He fell in love with the Great Smoky  Mountains, and lived in that area for the majority of his life. He eventually transitioned to doing contracting engineering jobs, which took him to various locations across the US, but he always came back home to Kingsport. During down times between contract jobs, he went back to school, and eventually obtained his 2nd bachelors degree in Computer Science from East Tennessee State University.

Van was an avid photographer and astronomy buff. He was an active member of the Bays Mountain astronomy club. He enjoyed nature walks and museums.

He is survived by a brother, Thomas Smothersand wife Diann of Lorena, TX.

He was preceded in death by his father, John Wilson; mother, Evelyn Smothers; and step-father, Johnny Ray Smothers.