Terrence Deen Wilson

God’s hand touched you and you were gone on a Wednesday evening. It is breaking our hearts to lose you so suddenly when we were looking forward to coming home to try once more, one more day with you. You did not go alone because a part of us went with you. It is hard but we knw we must see you in light and at the same time fill our hearts with joy at known you and shared God’s love with you on earth.

Terrence (Terry) Dean Wilson born May 29, 1953, the second eldest in a family of five siblings. He died peacefully surrounded by his wife Deborah (Debbie), siblings (Daryl, Rosalyn and Karen) and nephews (Cy and Daryl Tyler). Terry’s journey on earth ended December 28th He was originally from Cincinnati, Ohio and after graduating from the University of Cincinnati, moved to Washington, DC. The relationship between Terry and his wife Debbie is a wonderful love story lasting more than 45 years. They met while Terry was studying engineering at the University of Cincinnati and their marriage in 1978, was soon followed by their life adventure to Washington DC. He is survived by his wife Deborah Wilson, his brother, Daryl J. Wilson, and two sisters, Rosalyn M. Wilson and Karen L. Wilson as well as a large number of cousins and close friends.

Terrence was a bright light. He was much loved by so many and will be profoundly missed. He loved deeply and was the best of providers. His sparkling eyes and joyous personality drew others to him. His vibration helped to make this world a better place for those he touched. Terrence was an inspiration to many in the way he met life’s challenges and overcame them one after another. Terry was the most loving husband. Others commented on the beautiful vibration he exuded. He would buy beautiful cards whenever he shopped as a gift and token of love, so much so that there was no room to put them, so he bought beautiful wooden boxes to store them in. In spirtual matters he was gifted with natural qualities that the scriptures teach us to emulate, these came natural to him. He became a member of his church Self Realization Fellowship shortly before his illness took hold. Even the ministers expressed how his struggle was such an inspiration to them. On many occassions he would volunteer to help with preparing flower arrangements, cleaning the temple, and building storage shelves just to serve. Terrence was also protective of the church teachings by ensuring they were covered in the best protective materials. He was the best of husbands and the best of brothers and the best of in-laws. His suffering through this last illness in the end fulfilled a very difficult role here on earth paving the way for his advancement in the heavenly realms. All who knew him said he was such a good person, a good Christian man who uplifted others.

Terry loved to travel and camping, even when he was driving a car that had a fender that would flap in the wind when the car went over 50 miles per hour. He was good with a hibachi, but often when Terry would go camping, it wasn’t unusual for his dad to show up before the trip was over. I guess he got his travel bug honestly. Once the family took a motorhome from Cincinnati to Columbus where we were going to help an aunt get relocated from Columbus to Cincinnati. we picked up a moving truck in Columbus for her furniture and Terry was to drive the truck back to Cincinnati. on the way, of course, we got well ahead of dad in the motorhome and dad had the map so we pulled over to wait. While waiting, I got nervous that we were on the right road, and how would we ever get home if we had taken a wrong turn. Terry kidded me not to worry because if we needed money to get back home, we could always open the truck and sell some of our Aunt’s belongings. Our family tradition is our closeness, how we would sometimes fight like wolverines but still love like it was us against the world when needed. as adults, when physical closeness wasn’t always possible, we could always stay in touch by phone or cell. in later years, Terry was famous for his greater generosity.

While he lived in Cincinnati and first moved to Virginia, Terry often worked hard to come back to Cincinnati for the popular labor day fireworks. his brother Daryl would join Terry sometimes even carrying little Daryl on his shoulders. When coming to town wasn’t practical, we would still share the event in our separate places. Terry was a conservatory trained classical guitarist, so he could rip into many other forms of music from classical to jazz to folk to r&b. Terry acquired and maintained an impressive collection of guitars over the years and he even studio recorded a few original compositions with family and friends. he once said that he was studying electrical engineering so he could make enough money to support his interest in guitar playing. like many of us though, he eventually dedicated most of his time to his career, where he excelled time and again. He worked at Kroger while in school, GM as an engineering work-study student, at MITRE and Lockheed Martin as Sr Engineer, then OPNET/Riverbed mastering all of the company software and hardware platforms as a Carbon Steel alum, the highest engineering honor. And his dream job which was his last as Director of Engineering at PAE Amentum. He was very proud of the work and deeply appreciative of the opportunity to work with the latest leading edge technologies.

Terry was a natural engineer. He co-founded a contracting compnay with his wife Deborah where he was able to perform research and devlopment of emerging technologies. He also developed a fascination for video games, like Call of Duty and Metal Gear Solid – work spilling over into hobbies, maybe. He was very knowldegable of football and baseball having played the sports in early years and basketball until later in life. Many spring and summer days found him on the bike path to Mt Vernon enjoying the beautiful scenery and challenge of those hills. When the metro system was down instead of dribing into wotk in downtown DC he bought an electric scooter to commute.

Terry met Debbie while studying at the University of Cincinnati in the Hanarobi gospel choir where he was the guitarist. They became a fast pair and started their path with matched ambitions to not only grow, but grow together. Their work eventually moved them to relocate to Virginia to continue to knit their lives together and become part of the Virginia landscape; so we have already had a taste of being somewhat apart from terry, but not like this. Terry will be playing games and making music with his new friends now. we are all blessed to have shared the light of this beautiful star, even if only for a while. some stars go out or move on too soon. We love you forever Terry.

Family Acknowledgement:
During our time of sorrow we deeply realize how much friends and family mean. Terry would be so grateful of your kind expression of sympathy, strong support and love. This will always be remembered.

“Miss Me But Let Me Go”
When I have come to the end of the day and the sun has set for me, I want no rites in a gloom-filled room. Why cry for a soul set free? Miss me a little but not too long and not with your head bowed low. Remember the love we once shared, miss me but let me go. For this is s a journey we all must take and each must go alone. When you are lonely and sick at heart, go to friends we know and bury your sorrows In doing good deeds – miss me and let me go.