News
Former Ohio Congressman Charlie Wilson Dies At Age 70
By: WOUB Contributing Writer
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Former Ohio Congressman Charlie Wilson passed away Sunday afternoon in a Florida hospital following complications associated with a stroke he suffered in February.
The Wilson family released the following statement:
"Throughout his extraordinary life, Congressman Wilson was motivated by a desire to serve his country and a passion for the causes most important to the constituents of Southeast and East Ohio. Congressman Wilson served with honor, dignity and an unwavering sense of civic responsibility to the families of our region. Charlie will be remembered for his boundless energy, his honest approach, and his dedication to improving the lives of our future generations. For 14 years Southeast and East Ohio had a champion serving as their voice in Columbus and Washington and our communities are better places for his service."
The former Congressman was readmitted to Bethesda Hospital Saturday night and died Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
The fatal hemorrhage followed a stroke suffered on Feb. 21 of this year during a vacation in Florida. Wilson was in recovery at the Cornell Institute for Rehabilitation Medicine.
Born in Dillonvale, Ohio, on January 18, 1943, Wilson was an owner of small businesses operated throughout the Ohio Valley.
He was educated at Ohio University in Athens. While still in college, Wilson worked as a UAW member on the assembly line at the Ford Automotive auto plant in Lorain, Ohio.
In 1996, Wilson was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives, where he served until 2004 when he was elected to the Ohio Senate. Two years later, Wilson won his historic 2006 write-in campaign, filling the congressional seat vacated by Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland.
Wilson had four sons and nine grandchildren.
The family asks that contributions be made in his memory to the Congressman Charlie Wilson Leadership Program at Ohio University Eastern. Contributions can be sent to:
Congressman Charlie Wilson Leadership Program
c/o Ohio University Eastern
Dean’s Office
45425 National Road W.
St. Clairsville, OH 43950
Funeral details are not yet available.