Walter LeRoy “Earl” Wilson Jr. of Lone Pine, passed away peacefully to the sound of classic rock, on Saturday November 23, 2019, at age 74. Earl was born on February 3, 1945 in Los Angeles, CA to Walter and Mona (Glover) Wilson. He was raised in the Owens Valley, and attended Lone Pine Union High School. Earl received his Bachelor’s Degree from Fresno State University and lived in Fresno, CA for 15 years, until he returned to Lone Pine in 1978. He began working on and around Owens Dry Lake in 1982; primarily for The Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District (GBUAPCD) working on Wetlands Reclamation and Air Pollution Mitigation, until he retired.  

 

Earl lived life on his own terms; he was very much a free-spirited hippie at heart who eschewed a fancy lifestyle, and fought ardently for causes he believed in.  Earl had a passion for music, namely classic rock, and he loved to play the guitar. He always had a camera on hand and was an avid amateur photographer. He possessed a deep affinity for the night sky and was a very active amateur astronomer; a great pleasure he spoke of often and shared with many. Earl was a staunch life-long advocate of water rights for Owens Valley residents. As such, he spent his life dedicated to environmental and community activism in and around the Owens Valley.  He was the President & Newsletter Editor of the China Lake Astronomical Society (CLAS), Board Member - Owens Valley Committee (OVC), Board Member - Western Amateur Astronomers (WAA), and Member of the Inyo County Dark Sky Group. He was also very actively engaged with numerous other boards, committees, and community activism in and around the Owens Valley. 

 

Earl was preceded in death by his father Dr. Walter Wilson Sr. and his mother, Mona Wilson. He is survived by his three children: Eric, Trenton, and Alycia; Step-daughter Cara René, and five grandchildren: Dylan, Tristan, Logan, Shay and Sevahna. He also leaves behind many friends and associates who share similar philosophies about community, the environment, and the universe. Earl was a humble good guy who will be fondly remembered and dearly missed.

 

The family requests that any memorial contributions be made to one of the organizations mentioned above. Additionally, Earl would have encouraged others to join a local Astronomy Club, a Dark Sky Group, a Water Rights Group, or to simply get engaged in local community issues.