Donald “Donnie” Wade WIlson, Master Mechanic in Fleet, passed away on April 22nd. Donnie was beloved in Fleet, and he leaves behind a legacy of exceptionalism, friendship, and honesty.
Donnie was Steve Ashley’s closest friend for 29 years. Steve, a Master Mechanic in Fleet, said, “I met Donnie when we were at Brown & Wood. He was the first person to talk to me there, and we’ve been friends ever since.”
For Steve, the loss of Donnie is profound which is a testament to the deep-rooted and loyal friendship he offered. Donnie and Steve spent most of their weekends and workdays together. Donnie was an avid fisherman, and that is what they spent most of their time together doing when they weren’t working.
“Donnie always said, if you didn’t like Steve, then you were the problem because it couldn’t be Steve,” said Kenny McDonald, Master Mechanic.
“I still haven’t fully placed it yet,” Steve said about the loss.
Many in Fleet are grappling with the loss of such a genuine man and skilled mechanic.
Donnie had a preference for small engine repair but was adept at repairing anything that came into the garage.
“I used to think he was just slow with his work sometimes,” said Kevin Lockamy, Mechanic Supervisor. “But he wasn’t, he was intentional. He took time to think through how to fix things, and he was never wrong.”
At work, Donnie listened to classic rock, buying a satellite radio subscription to play during the day. Rush was his favorite band, but he also enjoyed Boston, Chicago, and 38 Special.
“I turned the radio to Shade 45, and he threatened to throw the whole radio in the trash if I didn’t change it back,” Kenny said laughing.
Carol Colville, Staff Support Specialist III, said she never saw Donnie angry in the eight years he was a mechanic in Fleet.
“I don’t think I ever saw him mad, but I saw him get frustrated,” she said.
Karen Braxton, Parts Manager, said Donnie was generous and would always ask about how you were doing and how your family was.
It was his family that was the apple of his eye. He talked about his wife of 34 years, Kimberly Perry Wilson, and daughter, Hannah Kay Wilson, all the time with his colleagues.
“He loved his daughter and his wife. He was so proud of them,” Carol said.
“He kept his daughter’s tattoo studio card in his toolbox and gave it to people when he could. He actually got three tattoos from Hannah. He didn’t like tattoos, but he loved her.”
Reminders of Donnie are everywhere for those in Fleet. The spoon Donnie ate his favorite canned fish with – sardines, herring – is still in his toolbox. The refrigerator still has his Sun Drops.
“It’s an eerie feeling with him not being here. It’s hard to believe that I won’t see him here,” Kevin said. “He used to be out that way to the left every day,” Kevin said as he pointed to the bay doors opening to the back of the yard.
Donnie broke his neck riding a three-wheeler on Rock Springs Road when he was younger, and Kevin said he told that story a lot. “I wish I could listen to it again,” Kevin said.
Donnie was a Pitt County native but was a resident of Belhaven for the past three years. He was a 1984 graduate of D. H. Conley High School. He is survived by his wife, Kimberly Perry Wilson; daughter, Hannah Kay Wilson & partner, Cody Stevens of Shallotte; parents, Charles and Jean Wilson of Winterville; a brother, Todd Wilson and wife, Tracey of Pink Hill; a sister, Angela Wilson Sutton & husband, Jim Sutton, Jr. of Grimesland; two nephews, Dilon Wilson of Pink Hill and Cody Sutton of New Bern.
