Chester Wilson Memorial Service

Welcome

On behalf of the family, I want to thank you for being here today.

Chester’s life is worth celebrating, and you do him a great honor by being here.

Today, I want to do three things.

I want to celebrate Chester’s life.

I want to comfort those of you who are grieving.

I want to worship and glorify Jesus.

One of the greatest ways accomplish all three of these goals is to look at the gifts that God has given Chester.

1 Corinthians 13:13 “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

May we see these qualities in Chester, and see them point to the God who gave them to him.

Scripture: Romans 8:31-39

Romans 8:31–39 ESV

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Prayer

Tribute to Life

Chester’s love.

Chester loved his family.

He was married to Margaret Dosier Wilson. They were active in the church and community in many ways.

They loved to travel.

They especially enjoyed the Eastern US and New York City

Chester had one daughter, Brenda, who he loved very much.

Chester also had a grandson, Jack Whitaker, and Step-Grandson, John Whitaker, who he loved.

Chester loved his church.

Chester served as a deacon at VBC.

He was active at VBC as long as he was able to attend, and he served in a variety of capacities.

Chester loved his country.

He served in the navy onboard the hospital ship USS Benevolence and tended to prisoners of war in the Pacific Theatre.

He witnessed the signing of the peace treaty between Japan, Britain, and the US in Tokyo Bay.

Chester loved his work.

He was the only member of his family to graduate from high school.

He worked with his father growing tobacco on the UK research farm, and eventually went to work for National Distillers.

Eventually, he became a storekeeper-gauger who locked and unlocked the distilleries so they could operate.

He did this at Wild Turkey, Woodford Reserve, and Castle and Key. .

Chester loved life.

Chester was a member of the Landmark Masonic Lodge in Versailles.

He also served Habitat for Humanity.

He gave dollar bills to little children. An older gentleman had given him a dollar when he was younger, and he said, “It’s just nice to have a dollar in your pocket.”

He loved basketball and especially baseball. He played for the Versailles Independents for the old Bluegrass League, and he once took a train to North Carolina to try out for the minors.

He loved golf, and he caddied for the likes of Halprice Headly and Silas Mason.

Finally, he was in Times Square on VE Day, when the famous picture of the serviceman hoisting the nurse and kissing her was taken.

Chester lived a full life, but Chester’s life has just begun.

Chester’s Faith

Chester’s faith shows us His eternity.

Chester’s faith can be our faith.

2 Corinthians 5:21 “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Chester’s Hope

Revelation 21:1–6 ESV

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.