Person Page - 5586

     John Elwin Skipton was buried at Elizabeth Cemetery, Elizabeth, Elbert Co., Colorado.² He was born on June 8, 1938 at Colorado.² He died on November 9, 1938 at Colorado.²

     His Social Security Number was 520-44-3319.⁴ Arlen Ray Wilson was born on July 6, 1942 at Denver, Denver Co., Colorado.^4,2 He married Donna L. Neely on January 31, 1965 at Converse Co., Wyoming.^2,3 Arlen Ray Wilson died on February 13, 2014 at Concord, Cabarrus Co., North Carolina, at age 71.^4,2 He Longtime resident, Arlen Ray Wilson, 71, died of Mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer, in Concord, North Carolina, on February 13, 2014. He was born in Denver, CO on July 6, 1942 at the Lamb Hospital to Roma (Skipton) and Bernard David Wilson. The family lived in Denver until Arlen was five and then moved to Casper, WY when his father took over management of Pepper Tank & Contracting. He went to Washington and McKinley elementary schools and graduated from NCHS in 1960. He then graduated from Casper College in 1962 and Oklahoma State University in 1964. Arlen took a Master's Degree in History from the University of Wyoming in 1967. He graduated from the Harvard University Trade Union Program in 1973. Over the years graduate study was undertaken at the University of Colorado and Colorado State University. After graduate school Arlen taught History and Government at Casper College for three years and then joined the U.S. Foreign Service in 1970. He was promoted to Senior Foreign Service Officer in 1990 and served until his retirement in 1995. He was assigned to eight overseas posts including Medellin, Colombia; Nairobi, Kenya; Ottawa, Canada; and Madrid, Spain. Following his retirement from foreign service Arlen became the first Casper College Upper Division Coordinator. In 1999 he returned to Washington, DC where he ultimately became the corporation editor of Databasics (small software company). In 2003 Arlen returned to the Dept. of State where he worked as Deputy Director of the office of International Labor Affairs. In 2006 he was recruited by Northrop Grumman Corp to manage its Databasics software applications. He loved his overseas jobs and found his life full and exciting. Like his father he would have worked forever but ill health brought about his retirement in December, 2013. In January 1965 he married his high school sweetheart, Donna L. Neely, who travelled the world with him. During their courting days both played bugles in the Casper Troopers Drum and Bugle Corp and were routinely called upon to play "Taps" at military services. A life- long Democrat he delighted in political arguments and kept himself well educated on the issues of the day. He believed in the power of one vote and never missed voting even when overseas. Arlen was a devoted son and brother, who brought love and laughter to his family with his quirky sense of humor and clever wit. He was a spiritual person known for his honesty and strong sense of fair play. If politics were his main hobby then motorcycles came in a close second. He was an avid motorcyclist from the time his mother bought him a highly-used Whizzer motor bike for his 14th birthday. Over the years he preferred sport bikes, the last of which was a Yamaha FJR 1300. He followed International Motorcycle racing including attending MOTO/GP races in Spain and the U.S. He enjoyed traveling, especially foreign places. Watching the dervishes dance in Sudan and Maassi dance in Kenya were favorite memories. One of the Maassi approached him with a bride price for his eight year old daughter, while his son was invited to dance with the young warriors. He leaves behind to mourn his passing, his wife of 49 years, Donna Wilson of Sterling, VA; son, Marc D. Wilson (Lynn) of Maryland; daughter, Andrea Wilson of Sarasota, FL; five grandchildren, Andrew Wilson (Angel), Amaya Turner, Cole Hogaboom, Isabel Wilson and Jackson Ray Wilson; with a great-grandchild on the way. His beloved aunts, Joyce Lucore (Wilbur), Grand Junction, CO; Jean Hoffman (Rex), Westcliffe, CO; and a clutch of loving cousins and friends. Including his longtime friend, Holly Hart, who became his devoted caregiver at the end. He also left behind his sister, Vanita Wilson and his mother-in-law, Alice Neely, both of Casper. There will be no service per his request, his cremains will be scattered in Casper in the Spring. on February 21, 2014.²

     Mary Duane Perkins was buried at Dreamland Cemetery, 26500 South U.S. Highway 87, Canyon, Randall Co., Texas.² She was born on December 27, 1941 at Hildago Co., Texas.^2,3 As of August 16, 1958,her married name was Clugy.¹ She married David Franklin "Dave" Clugy, son of Ralph Leo Clugy and Dorothy Ellen Wilson, on August 16, 1958.¹ Mary Duane Perkins died on April 25, 1990 at Randall Co., Texas, at age 48.^1,2,4