Wilson, Dr. Wilbert Fred

Obit Index
Updated: 20 Mar 2009

Daily Oklahoman, The
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
July 14, 2007

WILSON, Dr. Wilbert Fred, 86, died Tuesday. Services 10 a.m. Monday, Greater Grace Temple (Keith D. Biglow, Tulsa).

Channel 8 News KTUL (ABC)
Tulsa, Tulsa County, Oklahoma
July 9, 2007

Funeral Today For Dr. Wilbert Wilson, Last Of The Buffalo Soldiers

Tulsa - The last of Oklahoma's great Buffalo Soldiers has died.

NewsChannel 8 learned this morning that Dr. Wilbert Wilson passed away Monday morning. He was 85.

The name Buffalo Soldiers was given to troops of the all-black 9th and 10th Cavalry regiments during the Indian wars of the late 1800s.

Wilson's unit, the 10th Cavalry, served during World War II, guarding the California-Mexico border from attempts by the Japanese to invade the country.

Because of the successes of the all-black regiments, President Harry S. Truman ordered the military to be integrated in 1948 and the 'Buffalo Soldiers' were disbanded.

Twenty-three of the Buffalo Soldiers went on to win the prestigious Medal of Honor. No other unit has won more.

In recent years, Wilson spent his free time making appearances at area schools, educating children about the Buffalo Soldiers.

Trooper Paul Cherry, Trooper Fred Gray and Lewis Wilson carry Buffalo Soldier Dr. Wilbert Wilson’s casket at his committal service on Monday afternoon at the Fort Gibson National Cemetery.

Tulsa - Funeral services will be held this morning for Dr. Wilbert Wilson, the last of the Buffalo Soldiers, who passed away last week at age 86.

A funeral service will begin at 10 a.m. July 16 at Greater Grace Apostolic Temple under the direction of Keith D. Biglow Funeral Service.

Wilson was born Oct. 25, 1920, to Roberta Harding and James Wilson in Stamps, Ark.

In 1941, he joined the 10th Cavalry, an all-black Army regiment nicknamed the Buffalo Soldiers. After being honorably discharged from active service in 1943, Wilson was in the Army Reserve for 13 years, leaving at the rank of captain.

He had so enjoyed his experiences as a medic in the cavalry that he pursued a medical degree from the University of California at Los Angeles, graduating in 1959. Wilson built a prosperous medical practice in Los Angeles and retired to Tulsa in 1975.

Wilson's unit, the 10th Cavalry, served during World War II, guarding the California-Mexico border from attempts by the Japanese to invade the country.

Wilson, one of the nation’s last Buffalo Soldiers, died July 9 in Tulsa. He had served with the Tenth Cavalry Regiment from 1941 to 1943. The group was part of what were known as Buffalo Soldiers, an all-black unit that was organized in 1866 with newly freed slaves.

At one end of Monday’s color guard stood three soldiers. One wore a leather motorcycle jacket, chains, no shirt and covered his head with stars and stripes bandana. He held one of the American flags. Standing next to him was a man dressed in the uniform of the Buffalo Soldiers. He wore a navy blue pure wool jacket and matching hat. He stood at attention, his sword drawn, as Wilson’s family passed by. At the end of the line was a soldier dressed in a modern-day U.S. Army reserve uniform.

While the differences in uniforms were extreme, there was a theme that wove through the line to make them a tightly knit group — they were all patriots.

Wilson has been a member of the Ninth and Tenth (Horse) Cavalry Association of Lawton and enjoyed telling the stories of the group’s contributions to the nation’s freedoms. He frequently shared those stories at the Tulsa City Hall cafeteria and with school groups.

Several members of the association came in full dress to honor Wilson not only for his service in the military but also for his dedication to keeping alive the memory of the role the Buffalo Soldiers have served in protecting the nation, said Trooper Sam Samuels of the Lawton group.

After his time in the service, Wilson became a medical doctor. After retiring from his practice in the San Francisco area, he returned to Tulsa.

In recent years, Wilson spent his free time making appearances at area schools, educating children about the Buffalo Soldiers.

The name Buffalo Soldiers was given to troops of the all-black 9th and 10th Cavalry regiments during the Indian wars of the late 1800s. Because of the successes of the all-black regiments, President Harry S. Truman ordered the military to be integrated in 1948 and the 'Buffalo Soldiers' were disbanded.

Twenty-three of the Buffalo Soldiers went on to win the prestigious Medal of Honor. No other unit has won more.

Funeral services will be held this morning at 10 a.m. at Greater Grace Apostolic Temple. Wilson will then receive full military honors this afternoon at Fort Gibson National Cemetery, where he will be buried at 2 p.m.

He is survived by four daughters, Dietra Wilson-Joseph of Los Angeles, Cynthia Wilson of Oakland, Calif., Annette Wilson-Givens of Livermore, Calif., and Pradena Wilson-Goodes of Berkeley, Calif.

An honor guard representing Post 15 of the American Legion will perform a rifle salute, followed by TAPS with echoes. A U.S. Army detail from Fort Sill will also be on hand to fold the American Flag and present it to Wilson's survivors.

Dr. Wilbert Wilson To Receive Full Military Honors At Funeral

Fort Gibson - The last of the Buffalo Soldiers, Dr. Wilbert Wilson, will receive full military honors when he is laid to rest Monday afternoon at Fort Gibson National Cemetery.

Wilson passed away Monday morning in Tulsa. He was 86 years old. He will be buried at Fort Gibson National Cemetery at 2 p.m. Monday afternoon. An honor guard representing Post 15 of the American Legion will perform a rifle salute, followed by TAPS with echoes.

Also, a U.S. Army detail from Fort Sill will fold and present the American flag to Wilson's survivors.

Sources: fair use as stated above

Contributed by Marti Graham, June 2007. Information posted for educational purposes for viewers and researchers. The contributor is not related to nor researching any of the above.

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