Chief Theodore “Pete” Wilson
Theodore “Pete” Wilson had been a member of the Elwood fire department since 1943 and was made fire chief in 1956.
Elwood fire chief Theodore “Pete” Wilson suffered a heart attack and died while fighting a fire which swept through a block-long warehouse. The building was formerly occupied by the National Aircraft Manufacturing company and was used during World War II in the manufacturing of aircraft pontoons.
Elwood’s fire department received the alarm at 8:01 p.m. when it was turned in by an unidentified passing motorist who first noticed smoke and flames inside the building. The fire started at the north end of the building and was roaring out of control almost as soon as the firemen arrived. Nearly 100 firemen from 12 departments assisted including: Anderson, Alexandria, Tipton, Kokomo, Noblesville, Frankton, Lapel, Carmel and Pipe Creek township fire departments along with the entire Elwood fire department in bringing the blaze under control.
Chief Wilson was stricken about 8:30 p.m. as he ran from one truck to another fighting the massive blaze. An ambulance was summoned and Wilson was rushed to Mercy hospital in Elwood where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Wilson was born Dec. 5, 1909, in Elwood, he was the son of Elmer and Lucy Wilson. He was first married to Edna Elliott, March 17, 1932. She died June 6, 1940. He married Leatha Wellington, Oct. 18, 1948. She passed away Nov. 12, 1961. He was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic church, the Indiana Fireman’s association, the Indiana Fire Chiefs association and the Eagles lodge.
Survivors include: a son, Jerry Wilson of Elwood; his father, Elmer of Elwood; two sisters, Miss Genevieve and Miss Helen Wilson of Elwood; three brothers, Charles of Anderson and Woodrow, and Robert of Elwood; four grandchildren; three step-daughters, Mrs. Jeanette Thompson of Tinker, Okla., and Mrs. Marie Plummer and Mrs. France Bians of Elwood; and four step-sons, John Elliott of Elwood, Dan Elliott of the U.S. Army in Germany, William Elliott of Tipton and Lew Wellington, Jr. of Hobart; and 18 step-grandchildren.
Funeral rites were held at St. Joseph’s church, Rt. Rev. Msgr. T. J. Hammes officiated. Chief Wilson’s final resting place is the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.
