Lonnie Wilson, 71, died on Thursday, December 5, 2013, after living for several years with diabetes and high blood pressure. Lonnie was born in Cairo, Illinois on June 17, 1942.  His parents, Albert J. and Alma Ruth Wilson brought him to Akron when he was a month old.  Lonnie was the second of their three children.  Lonnie attended North High School and the University of Akron, where he was a standout basketball player on one of the best teams in UA history and where he played along side his brother, the late Lt. Col . Edward Wilson.  Lon was preceded in death by his parents and another brother, Joe L. Wilson.     Lonnie is survived by his devoted wife of 29 years, Deborah Prophet Wilson (aka "my old lady") and his children Cory Young of Louisville, Kentucky, Sonja Wilson Parker of Evans, Georgia, Lonnie (Danielle) Wilson of Canton and Lionel (Jaime) Wilson of Akron.  Lonnie retired as a revenue analyst from the U.S. Postal Service and previously worked for Equitable Life, Marion Correctional Institution as a Corrections Officer, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. and as co-owner, with his wife, of Bride's Choice.  Lonnie was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army and served in Germany where he was assigned primarily to play basketball and represent the Army and his Country in international tournaments.  He played for the Rivlin Team on his return to the U.S.  He was very family oriented and loved to visit family.  Always wanting to "get on the road"  Lonnie traveled to Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Mexico, Jamaica and all over the nation.  He was a road warrior who would unerringly find the right location without a GPS.  Lon was baptized at an early age, rededicated himself and was baptized again in his 60's. When Lon was young he was a daredevil and would swim in the Cuyahoga River, ride his bike through the weeds or take off on any adventure.  Lon loved sharing his life wisdom through mottos and sayings which  people enjoyed hearing.  One of his favorite sayings was "four or forty", which means take four years to get your college degree of have forty years to suffer for not getting your degree.  He had a real passion for pinochle and  relished playing cards with his lifelong friends.   He enjoyed dancing and telling stories about his family, was proud of his wife and children and ended every phone call to family with "I love you." In addition to Deborah  and his children Lonnie is survived by his seven grandchildren; Thandeka, Selena, Cori,  Meagan, Passion, Cory and Brooke, two great-grand children, his sister Gwendolyn (Roger) Wilson-Cobbs, Auntie Margaret Owens, Aunt Gerogia McFadden, cousins Dorothy Jefferson and Andrew Toney Wilson,  special friends Dave (Dottie) Evans and Ed Parms (Linda) and many loving family members and lifetime friends.