Sim Wilson, former newspaper publisher and legislator, dies at 81
Published on Thu, Feb 12, 2009 by Beckye RandallRead More Local News
Simeon Wilson III, known simply as Sim, passed away at a Bremerton hospital Sunday, February 8. He was 81 years old.
Wilson had undergone surgery last month and was readmitted to the hospital on Saturday to diagnose and repair some internal bleeding, according to a family friend. He was expected to make a full recovery, but experienced a loss of consciousness and could not be revived.
Wilson was the publisher of the Marysville Globe and Arlington Times for more than 30 years. The local icon also served in the state House of Representatives for 20 years, from 1972 to 1992. A Republican from the 10th District, Wilson met and married fellow state lawmaker Karen Schmidt in 1993.
Many of us here at North County Outlook had worked for Sim over the years, and we were always glad to see him stop by the office to pick up a copy of the paper. Every two weeks, he'd take the ferry back to this side of Puget Sound to enjoy coffee and lunch with his Marysville pals and catch up on the local news.
Completely out of character, the veteran news man even agreed to dress up as Santa for our paper's 2007 holiday ads, and longtime advertisers and friends were treated to an unexpected "Ho ho ho."
Wilson had two grown children, Mike and Maren, two stepsons and five grandchildren.
The Wilsons had recently built and moved to a new home in Kingston. They enjoyed traveling and spending time in their condo in Mexico.
A memorial service is planned for February 21 in Marysville. The full obituary notice appears below.
Simeon Wilson III obituary
Simeon Robert Wilson III passed away February 8th at Harrison Hospital in Bremerton, WA from complications due to surgery.
Sim, as he was known to his friends, was born on August 2, 1927 in Hood River, Oregon to Ruth and Simeon Wilson II. He spent his early years growing up on Whidbey Island and later during his high school years he and his family moved to Marysville where his father was the editor of the Marysville Globe.
Sim attended Everett Jr. College and Washington State University where he graduated with a BA. Later, he attended the University of Washington where he graduated with a Masters in Fine Arts. His studies were interrupted by the Korean War where he was stationed for three years on the U.S.S. Baltimore spending summers in the Mediterranean and winters in Boston. He began working on a Doctorate at Ohio State but came home to begin a career as a newspaper man following in the footsteps of his father and grand-father. Sim was editor and publisher of the Marysville Globe and Arlington Times for over thirty years.
He married Betty Rust in 1959 and they raised two children at the family home on Priest Point near Marysville
In 1972 he was elected to the Washington State House of Representatives and served as a State Representative to the 10th District for twenty years, retiring in 1992. During his ten terms he chaired the transportation committee and served as the Republican leader.
He moved to Bainbridge Island in 1993 when he married Karen Schmidt. In 2006 they built a new home in Kingston where they lived until he passed away. Sim was an avid gardener and loved to build model airplanes. He continued to make pottery in his retirement and traveled extensively with his wife Karen and their friends to the far corners of the world including Myanmar, India, Egypt, China, Austria, Hungary, Turkey, Greece, Argentina, Chile. Some of his happiest times were spent at their condo in Manzanillo, Mexico.
Sim is survived by his wife Karen Wilson, son Michael Wilson (Linda Hamilton), daughter Maren Wilson (Debra Kelly), stepsons Geoffrey & Gavin Schmidt, grandchildren Justin, Zachary, Simeon & Layla Wilson, Colleen Campbell. He is also survived by Betty Rust and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Murial Williams and brother David Wilson.
A Celebration of Life is being planned for a Feb 21, at a location in Marysville. Funeral Arrangements are under the direction of Stone Chapel, Poulsbo. Condolences may be sent to Karen Wilson, P.O. Box 40965, Olympia WA 98504. Remembrances can be sent to The American Cancer Society under Charity Runner http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?px=7147489&fr_id=18255&pg=person
Wilson had undergone surgery last month and was readmitted to the hospital on Saturday to diagnose and repair some internal bleeding, according to a family friend. He was expected to make a full recovery, but experienced a loss of consciousness and could not be revived.
Wilson was the publisher of the Marysville Globe and Arlington Times for more than 30 years. The local icon also served in the state House of Representatives for 20 years, from 1972 to 1992. A Republican from the 10th District, Wilson met and married fellow state lawmaker Karen Schmidt in 1993.
Many of us here at North County Outlook had worked for Sim over the years, and we were always glad to see him stop by the office to pick up a copy of the paper. Every two weeks, he'd take the ferry back to this side of Puget Sound to enjoy coffee and lunch with his Marysville pals and catch up on the local news.
Completely out of character, the veteran news man even agreed to dress up as Santa for our paper's 2007 holiday ads, and longtime advertisers and friends were treated to an unexpected "Ho ho ho."
Wilson had two grown children, Mike and Maren, two stepsons and five grandchildren.
The Wilsons had recently built and moved to a new home in Kingston. They enjoyed traveling and spending time in their condo in Mexico.
A memorial service is planned for February 21 in Marysville. The full obituary notice appears below.
Simeon Wilson III obituary
Simeon Robert Wilson III passed away February 8th at Harrison Hospital in Bremerton, WA from complications due to surgery.
Sim, as he was known to his friends, was born on August 2, 1927 in Hood River, Oregon to Ruth and Simeon Wilson II. He spent his early years growing up on Whidbey Island and later during his high school years he and his family moved to Marysville where his father was the editor of the Marysville Globe.
Sim attended Everett Jr. College and Washington State University where he graduated with a BA. Later, he attended the University of Washington where he graduated with a Masters in Fine Arts. His studies were interrupted by the Korean War where he was stationed for three years on the U.S.S. Baltimore spending summers in the Mediterranean and winters in Boston. He began working on a Doctorate at Ohio State but came home to begin a career as a newspaper man following in the footsteps of his father and grand-father. Sim was editor and publisher of the Marysville Globe and Arlington Times for over thirty years.
He married Betty Rust in 1959 and they raised two children at the family home on Priest Point near Marysville
In 1972 he was elected to the Washington State House of Representatives and served as a State Representative to the 10th District for twenty years, retiring in 1992. During his ten terms he chaired the transportation committee and served as the Republican leader.
He moved to Bainbridge Island in 1993 when he married Karen Schmidt. In 2006 they built a new home in Kingston where they lived until he passed away. Sim was an avid gardener and loved to build model airplanes. He continued to make pottery in his retirement and traveled extensively with his wife Karen and their friends to the far corners of the world including Myanmar, India, Egypt, China, Austria, Hungary, Turkey, Greece, Argentina, Chile. Some of his happiest times were spent at their condo in Manzanillo, Mexico.
Sim is survived by his wife Karen Wilson, son Michael Wilson (Linda Hamilton), daughter Maren Wilson (Debra Kelly), stepsons Geoffrey & Gavin Schmidt, grandchildren Justin, Zachary, Simeon & Layla Wilson, Colleen Campbell. He is also survived by Betty Rust and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Murial Williams and brother David Wilson.
A Celebration of Life is being planned for a Feb 21, at a location in Marysville. Funeral Arrangements are under the direction of Stone Chapel, Poulsbo. Condolences may be sent to Karen Wilson, P.O. Box 40965, Olympia WA 98504. Remembrances can be sent to The American Cancer Society under Charity Runner http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?px=7147489&fr_id=18255&pg=person
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