HYATTSVILLE, Md. — Neil Fletcher Wilson

of Hyattsville, Md., age 59, passed away on May 9, 2020 in Washington D.C., of pancreatic cancer.

Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Sally Cox Wilson and Sam Wilson.

He was the grandson of John F. Cox and Helen H. Cox of Morrilton, Ark. He married Emma Coryell Holmes of Seattle, Washington on February 3, 1988. Neil graduated from Morrilton High School. He received a B.S. in Biology from Hendrix College, Conway, Ark.

Neil was commissioned in the U.S. Army, Chemical Corps where he served for 20 years. He attended the Army Command and General Staff College where he received a Master of Military Art and Science Degree. He served overseas, most notably as Chief of Operations 1st Infantry Division (Big Red One) in Wurzburg, Germany. Neil’s final tour of duty was at the Pentagon where he served on the Army Staff before retiring at the rank of Major in 2004. After retiring, Neil pursued his passion for food. He attended L’Academie de Cuisine Culinary School in Gaithersburg, Maryland and interned at Palena Restaurant in Washington, DC before starting a successful business as a Personal Chef.

Neil was generous in all aspects of life, most memorably as a mentor and teacher. He volunteered in the community sharing his knowledge of food with others at So Others Might Eat, and Isaiah House and through his Church. The Wilsons were longstanding members of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church and more recently members at St. John’s Lafayette Square. Neil’s faith was the foundation for everything he did.

There were two things of which Neil was most proud in life – being a good husband and serving in the Military. Neil was known for his sense of humor and legendary dinner parties. Neil is survived by his wife, Emma, his brother John, Uncle John and Aunt Cecile Cox, sister-in-law’s Michael Ann, and Sara, brother-in-law’s Kevin and John, and many adoring and adored nieces, nephews and cousins.

A funeral service and burial at Arlington National Cemetery will be scheduled at a later date. Friends and family who wish to make donations in his memory are encouraged to send them to: So Other’s Might Eat (SOME) https://www.some.org/.