Arthur Seymour Wilson

Arthur Seymour “Art” Wilson, PhD, aged 84, passed away peacefully at Flagstaff Medical Center the evening of August 15, 2026 after a brief illness.

The oldest of four children, Art was born February 21, 1942 to Frances Lavelle Malich Wilson and Albert George Wilson, PhD, in Pasadena California.

The elder Dr Wilson moved his family to Flagstaff in 1954 where he served as director of Lowell Observatory and where Art graduated as Valedictorian from Flagstaff High School in 1959. While at Flag High, Art was active in the Boys Scouts, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. Other interests included dramatics, math, astronautics, astronomy, music, Church, and building miniature rockets. One of his rockets earned him an article in the newspaper his senior year. He was an exchange student in Germany his Junior year, and was the winner of a statewide oratorical contest as a Senior.

Art went on to (William Marsh) Rice University in Houston, TX, to earn earn his Bachelor's and Master’s Degrees, and his PhD in Nuclear Physics in 1969. During his PhD studies, Art helped run the ‘Van de Graaff Particle Accelerator’ and the ‘EN Tandem Accelerator’ at TW Bonner Nuclear Laboratory, the first fully equipped university nuclear lab in the US. While in Texas, Art began his illustrious career in the oil and gas industry, first as a District Manager for Texaco and then as the Vice President of US for American Trading & Production Corporation. He also collaborated as a scientist and business partner for ground-breaking inventions focused on sustainability through cleaner landfills, oil, and electricity.

Upon his retirement from oil and gas, Art and his young family moved back to Flagstaff where he took various teaching positions at the University of Phoenix, Coconino Community College, and Northern Arizona University. Lovingly known as “Dr Galaxy,” Art knew “everything about everything” (even midwifery!), and he would jokingly add that he was the most humble and modest, too. He enjoyed photography, hiking, camping with family, river rafting, playing guitar, competing in triathlons, cooking gourmet meals, cheering on the Arizona Cardinals, and tinkering with and driving his Ferraris.

Art was well traveled. He loved family and friend trips to Puerto Peñasco, Mexico, where “Shrimp Alberto” and breakfast burritos were a must. Another favorite place was Kenya, Africa, where he spent one month on a photographic safari. While there, Art captured the 1980 total solar eclipse with his favorite ‘Hasselbad’ camera, as well as beautiful animal and landscape scenes. He also spent time driving from Flagstaff to Sebastopol, CA, when his dad was still alive and living there, trips that always included a visit to the Science Buzz Cafe there where he could discuss science and technology with like-minded people, including his dad.

Always up for entertaining, Art hosted epic dinner parties, often featuring Olympic athletes, who came to Flagstaff to train at high altitude, as the guests of honor. He maintained friendships with many of those athletes, their coaches and spouses over the years. Such evenings always ended with several group photos, the last one being goofy, and often a jam session in his living room.

Art is survived by his daughter, Alexandra Wilson, of Flagstaff, his son and daughter-in-law, James “Alstar” and Ashley Wilson, and grandson, Bryson James Wilson, of Ahwatukee, and his grandson, Arthur Samuel Wilson, and his mother, Melissa Morris, of Chandler. He is also survived by his former spouse, Deborah Fathree, the mother of his three children, of Claremore, OK, his brother, Charles Wilson, of Houston, TX, his sister, Ara Nannette “Nan” Rinker, and his sister and brother-in-law, Lorinda and Kirk Troxler, all from Beaver, PA, and his dear friend, Karen Parsons of Flagstaff. He leaves behind beloved nieces and nephews, cousins, and countless friends. He was predeceased by his mom in 1997, by his dad in 2012, and by a son, Albert David Wilson, in 2020.

A long-time member of the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, Art served as a lector, verger, and lay eucharistic minister, and was known for chanting the Hebrew Blessings over Bread and Wine during Lent. Vimru Amein! He was a graduate of Education for Ministry (EfM), a four-year certificate program in theology administered by the University of the South.

Art’s life and legacy will be celebrated with Holy Eucharist at Church of the Epiphany, 423 N Beaver Street, Flagstaff, at 11:00 on Saturday, the 24th of October, followed by the inurnment of his ashes in the columbarium and a reception in the parish hall. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Church of the Epiphany or to the Flagstaff Family Food Center.