Robert William Wilson, 79, of Edwardsville, died Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019, at Rosewood Care Center in Edwardsville.

He was born April 20, 1939, in St. Louis, Missouri, a son of the late Joseph Marion Wilson Sr. and the late Esther Ida (Capstick) Wilson. He married Nancy Graham (Enslin) Wilson on Aug. 13, 1960, at the Webster Groves Presbyterian Church in Webster Groves, Missouri and she survives.

He has served others throughout his life as an attorney with over 50 years of dedicated service. Robert had a true respect for the profession, grateful clients, and trial victories. He graduated from the University of Missouri with his bachelor of arts in 1960 and in 1963 graduated with his Juris Doctorate. He was a member of the Missouri Bar since 1963, the Illinois Bar since 1968 and the North Carolina Bar since 2000. He was admitted to practice in front of the following federal courts: Supreme Court of the United States in 1977; Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in 1968; Southern District Illinois in 1968; Eastern District Missouri in 1963; and, Western District North Carolina in 2000. Robert served as an associate with Moser and Marsalek and Bernard and Davidson and served as a partner with Burroughs, Simpson and Wilson and Evans and Dixon. He enjoyed his days sailing, traveling, fly-fishing with his friends and cheering on his college football team. Robert was a member of St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Edwardsville.

In addition to his beloved wife of over 58 years, he is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Alexander Marion Wilson and Emily Rees-Wilson of Glen Carbon and Robert Harley Wilson and Michele Wilson of Cumming, Georgia; three grandchildren, Emily Brown and spouse Steven Brown of Alton, Madeline Wilson and Clayton Wilson of Cumming, Georgia; sister-in-law, Ann Wilson of University City, Missouri; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Eleanor and Dennis Goette of Ballwin, Missouri; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Edgar H. and Lynn Enslin of Town and Country, Missouri; nieces; nephews; other extended family and friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson, Evan Joseph Wilson and a brother, Joseph Marion Wilson Jr.