Ronald Willson

"I, Ronald Wheeler Willson, domiciled in Kitsap County, Washington, realizing the uncertainty of this life and with full confidence and trust in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in His death on the cross for my sins and in His shed blood as an atonement for my soul, and knowing that by faith in His sacrifice on the cross for me I have eternal life, declare this to be my Will." This was not only the first paragraph in my dad's legal will, but this was truly his will - to follow Jesus as his Lord and Savior. My dad was born on September 17, 1947, to Charles Woodrow Willson and Evelyn Willson. One day during my dad's early childhood, his mother got a call from a doctor. The doctor said, "Mrs. Willson, we would like to do some tests on your son, Ron. We suspect that he may have some disabilities." After consulting her husband, my grandmother agreed to the testing. Even though my grandparents agreed to the testing they knew that God was bigger than whatever disabilities my dad would have. It was found that my dad had a speech impediment and poor motor skills. The doctor also said that he would never be able to walk correctly and it would be a long hard road. After that phone call, my grandma got on her knees every day and began to pray for her son. She said, "Lord, let my son become a preacher." His mom worked with him every day, reading to him and teaching him how to read and to speak. She oftentimes would lay magazines on the floor and have my dad walk on them with only his socks on to help him learn balance. He would often slip and fall, but because of this determination and his parents' uncompromising faith in Jesus Christ, my dad was healed of his speech impediment and began to walk and talk with pride because of the work of Jesus Christ! Growing up, my dad was teased and made fun of. He was the punchline of cruel jokes as he would often stutter and fall. His high school football coach, Ted Berney, told me that he asked my dad to run the stairs...my dad looked at him and said, "Coach, I can't." Ted Berney said, "You can." My dad began to run those stairs, often falling and getting back up as those sitting in the bleachers laughed and made fun of him. He did not stop running and falling until he was instructed to. It is no wonder that he helped teach swim lessons to children who had disabilities because he himself could feel their pain. I am sure, he said, "Lord, who am I that the Lord of all the earth who would care to know my name, would care to feel my hurt. Who am I, Lord, that the Bright and Morning Star, would choose to light my way for my ever wandering heart?" I think that my dad struggled for a long time with who he was, but that all changed when he met Jesus Christ and accepted him as his Lord and Savior. He knew his identity was in Jesus Christ, not in any of his disabilities. He was a child of the king! On September 18, 1970, he married Shari Lynn Gasper, my mom. There were many questions surrounding their marriage. Would Ron be able to support his wife? Could he give my mom what she needed? Many people had doubts and I'm sure this hurt my dad and my mom but my parents put their faith in Jesus Christ. My mom was the best thing that happened to my dad. She made him a better person, a better follower of Christ, and a tremendous father. In fact, I'm a better person because Ronald Wheeler Willson was my dad. When my mom got pregnant with my sister, Melody, who was born on May 17, 1974, again there were many questions surrounding her pregnancy. Would the child have a disability too? Would the child grow up to be a productive person in society? Again, God showed his faithfulness as my dad and mom had an uncompromising faith in Jesus Christ. My sister is a godly woman who also has an uncompromising faith. She truly has God's wisdom and has hidden God's word in her heart. My dad was my best friend. He was my teacher and I was his student. He was my coach and I was the athlete. He was the mirror image of Jesus and I was the disciple. He was my cheerleader but I was his biggest fan. I could remember when I made my first basket in Peewee basketball. The referee yelled at him to get off the court as he ran down the lines cheering me on! I was a terrible baseball player but yet my dad encouraged me to swing the bat until I hit the ball. It is no wonder why my dad got the "Most Inspirational Award" on his baseball team. When I got cut from the freshman basketball team in high school, my dad could feel my pain as he listened to me cry. He said, "Ryan, God has bigger and better plans for you." When I graduated from high school he said, "Son, I stand by you and any decision you make for your life." As I struggled in my studies at Seattle Pacific University and oftentimes would call home overwhelmed with my own struggle about who I was, he reminded me that Christ knew my name and He cared to feel my hurt and that the Bright and Morning Star was lighting the way for my ever wandering heart. My dad was so proud of me. I could never really understand why he was so proud. Now I understand. It all goes back to the prayer that was whispered to God so long ago by his mom. "Lord, let my son be a preacher." Every time I have preached, my dad would want to come no matter the distance. You see, I believe I was living out the prayer that my grandma whispered so long ago, one that had now become my dad's prayer as well. The last time he heard me speak was on June 13, 2004, the day after he was able to walk my sister down the aisle to be married to Ben Porter. As I spoke in his own home church, he was so proud as he introduced me in both services to the congregation. In his introduction he said, "I feel like this is Father's Day. My daughter was married yesterday and my son is here preaching in my home church. This has truly been the best weekend of my life." I thouht it was strange that he was in the front row for both services but he wanted me to know that he supported me. John Wesley once said, "Make all you can, spend all you can and give all you can." This sums up my dad's life. He made everything he could out of his life while he was on earth. He spent himself on people. He loved people and people loved him. He gave and gave and gave, even when he had nothing else to give. My dad never sought to have his name in bold print. He was satisfied and content to do the jobs that no one else wanted to do. For 35 years, he worked as a gas station attendant, a warehouseman and as a sales associate at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in the Navy Exchange. He was the man you wanted on your committee or team because you knew he would find a way to get the job done and done well. After his retirement, he went back to his first love, the church. He served as the custodian at the ABC Day Care at Port Orchard Nazarene. My dad was committed to Jesus Christ and His Church. He was so loyal to every pastor who he was under. He supported them when others criticized them. He stood by when others left. He was the first at church and the last to leave. He truly loved the Bride of Christ which is the Church. My dad went home to be with Jesus on September 5, 2004. He is survived by his wife, Shari, son, Ryan and his wife Jennifer of Tonasket, Washington, a daughter, Melody, and her husband, Ben Porter, of Port Orchard, brother John and his wife Kathy of Whidbey Island, and brother Jerry and his wife Sunny of Port Orchard, a sister, Karen and her husband, Bill Rowe, of Port Orchard, and two grandchildren, Curtis and Kara Willson. When my dad was ushered into the Kingdom, I'm sure he said, "Who am I that the eyes that see my sin, would look on me with love, and watch me rise again. Who am I that the voice that calmed the sea, would call out through the rain and calm the storm in me. Not because of who I am, Lord, but because of what you've done, not because of what I've done but because of who you are. I am yours." I love you, Dad, and I will see you soon. Your son, Ryan