William Robinson (Bill) Wilson, 96, of Naples, Fla. formerly of Princeton, passed away Thursday May, 19, 2011 at Imperial Health Center in Naples.

Born Dec. 8, 1914 in Audubon County, Iowa, Bill was the eldest of two sons born to Will G. and Carrie Robinson Wilson.

Art, music, studying and swimming all came easily to Bill in his youth. He received a bachelor of science degree from Iowa State University in 1938 where he enrolled in the Army Officer Training Corp. While in college he married Helen Davis and later had two sons with her; Jack Wilson, a pianist, conductor, and university professor, and Randy Wilson, a computer professional and musician.

When the U.S. entered World War II, Bill was working as a political cartoonist for a Des Moines, Iowa newspaper. The U.S. Army assigned him to be a photographer for the Signal Corp. Bill was a captain who traveled much of North Africa and Europe with Allied troops. He became acquainted with Ernie Pyle and was inspired by Ernie to tell the story of America’s soldiers with his photos. One of Bill’s photos of Allied antiaircraft guns firing on Axis bombers won numerous awards and hung in the White House for many years.

Following the war, Bill continued as a photographer and became a journalist and pilot as well. He wrote articles for national magazines and interviewed many interesting celebrities and notable military leaders. He traveled to Europe, South America, Pacific islands, and 49 of the 50 states.  He especially enjoyed visiting and photographing our National Parks and the American west. Bill loved Zion, Bryce Canyon, Yellowstone, Mesa Verde and lived for many years in northern New Mexico. He was always interested in visiting new places and learning.

In 1995 Bill married Naomi Beckner and moved to Princeton, Naomi’s hometown. Bill became an ordained deacon and elder, in the First Presbyterian Church of Princeton. In 2005 Senator Dick Lugar announced that the Library of Congress had accepted over 1,300 of Bill’s personal World War II photographs. For several years a collection of Bill’s photos, cameras, and other WWII memorabilia was displayed at the Evansville Museum of Arts, History, and Science.

Bill is survived by his beloved wife, Naomi Beckner-Wilson of Florida; son Randy Wilson and his wife Cathy of California; granddaughters, Jennifer Wolffing and her husband Chris of Idaho, Rebecca Wilson of California; great grandson, Owen Wolffing of Idaho; stepson, Alan Beckner and his wife Renee of Naples, Fla.; and stepdaughter, Peg Beckner of Florida.

Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 17, 2011 at Hillside United Methodist Church of Princeton.