Leland E. Wilson, age 88, of Twin Lake and Texas, passed away on July 30, 2014, at the Leila & Cyrus Poppen House Hospice Residence in Muskegon. He was born on October 28, 1925, in Fort Recovery, Ohio, one of three children of John Huffman and Mathilda Caroline (Sunderhaus) Wilson. Lee graduated high school in 1942 in Grand Rapids and served his country as an Aviation Cadet in the USAAF from 1943-1945. He married Marian Trygstad on November 27, 1948, in Muskegon at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Lee graduated from Tulsa University in 1950 in Petroleum Engineering and joined the Atlantic Refining Co. working in Texas and Louisiana as an engineer and drilling specialist. Lee's career as an ARCO executive led him to assignments all around the world. After a four-month bachelor's assignment in Libya, he accepted a transfer to Alaska, where he helped drill the Discovery Well on the North Slope of Prudhoe Bay, the largest oil field in North America. That was followed by an international career specializing in offshore drilling in England (North Sea), Denmark (Davis Strait, Greenland), Indonesia (Java Sea), and Hong Kong (South China Sea), where he ended his career as a Vice President and Resident Manager of ARCO China. Lee's father John was an oilman as well, and he took pride in the fact that his father allowed him to blow his first well when he was only 4 years old! Lee has two oil industry patents: one for reducing the density of water to help move icebergs away from drilling platforms; and a second for a method for extracting gas from below the permafrost. Lee wrote a genealogy book, " Dear John" , that successfully researched both his and Marian's sides of the family starting from his son John. He and Marian enjoyed traveling the world to fit together the pieces of their ancestry. Lee was a lifelong Tiger fan, and rarely missed a game while in Michigan. Lee was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and brother. He is survived by his children, Kathleen (Larry Cohn) Wilson of Anchorage, Alaska, Linda (Brad Owens) Wilson of Anchorage, Alaska, Mary Lee (Nick Wieder) Wilson of Santa Monica, California, and John (Lisa) Wilson of Anchorage, Alaska; 8 grandchildren, Emily Cohn, Tyler Cohn, Whitney (Greg) DAtri, Reed (Kelly) Owens, Eric Owens, Katy Benson, Michael Benson, and Leland D. Wilson; 4 great-grandchildren, Coralie DAtri, Penelope DAtri, Oskar Owens, and Wiley Owens; sisters, Gladys Dood and Nellie Saxton; and many nieces and nephews. Lee was preceded in death by his wife, Marian on September 24, 2011. Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 3, 2014, from 5 8 p.m. at the Crandell Funeral Home in Fremont. Funeral Services will be held on Monday morning at 10 a.m. at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Muskegon with Rev. Matthew J. Barnum officiating. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Holton. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a donation to the St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church or the Russell B. Trygstad Scholarship fund through the Community Foundation of Muskegon County (425 W. Western Ave., Suite 200, Muskegon, MI 49440 or online at www.cffmc.org) or the Holy Family Catholic Church (PO Box 829 Lindale, Texas 75771). Friends may share memories and condolences online at crandellfh.com. Arrangements by Crandell Funeral Home Fremont. 231-924-0800