Wilson Owen Allsbrook, 78, of Scotland Neck, passed away March 28, 2026, at home

with his loving wife by his side, after a long courageous battle with cancer.

Wilson was born August 15, 1947, in Norfolk, Virginia, to Lida Pittman Allsbrook and Robert Owen Allsbrook. After losing his mother and father at an early age, he eventually came to live with his maternal grandmother, Martha Rayburn Allsbrook (“Miss Raby”), in Scotland Neck. During his youth he worked a variety of jobs—working in tobacco, selling popcorn at the Dixie Theater, driving a school bus, and working in the A&P meat market—learning a strong work ethic, responsibility, and the can-do attitude that shaped his life.

After graduating from Scotland Neck High School in 1966, he went on to continue his education at Pitt Technical Community College. Upon graduation at Pitt, he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard where he earned the rank of Second Class Petty Officer as an Aviation Technician. He flew as a radio operator on search-and-rescue missions on HU-16 seaplanes and C-130 cargo planes out of Elizabeth City Air Station. He was proud to serve his country, and his memories of the Coast Guard were some of the happiest and most rewarding of his life.

While at Elizabeth City he often returned to Scotland Neck. During one of these visits, he met Bethany Ann Hux while working at Randy Staton’s electronics repair shop. It was love at first sight for both of them. During a six-month relationship that began in March of 1969, they became engaged in May and were married August 17, 1969. They lived in Elizabeth City near the Coast Guard base. Once discharged from service, the couple moved to Greenville where he returned to Pitt Tech to continue his education in electronics. During this time, he worked as a broadcast engineer and DJ at WNCT-AM. He was hired by Pitt Tech to teach electronics and later was recruited by Mitchell Community College to develop a one-year electronics program. While exploring opportunities for his students, he met with representatives from Rockwell International. Impressed by his skills, Rockwell invited him to take their required exam for employment. He was one of only three to pass, and was offered a

position in Research and Development at Rockwell International in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

At Rockwell, he joined the team working on early GPS technology. Their work led to the first transatlantic flight using satellite navigation at the Paris airshow in 1983, and paved the way for development of the first commercially available in-vehicle GPS system (which at time was so large it took up the truck of the car). This was an achievement of which he was extremely proud.

While continuing his career at Rockwell, he and Bethany attended Coe College at night where they earned degrees in Business Administration and graduated together in 1986. He was then promoted to the position of Engineering Lab Manager. After 27 years with Rockwell, he retired at the age of 59. He was the oldest and most senior member of his company group.

Retirement brought Wilson and Bethany to the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri, where they designed and built their dream home and enjoyed ten years on the water. Wilson remained active with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary teaching boating safety classes and doing boat inspections. This gave him the opportunity to once again serve the community with his background in the Coast Guard.

In 2016 they returned to Scotland Neck to be near family. Wilson was diagnosed with

prostate cancer in 2017. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lida Pittman Allsbrook and Robert Owen Allsbrook; his sister Evolyn; and his grandparents. He is survived by his wife of 56

years, Bethany Hux Allsbrook; cousin Mary Martha McKnight (Tom) of Wilmington; brothers-in-law Richard Hux Jr. (JoAnn) and Howard Mahlon Hux (Donna) both of Scotland Neck; sister-in-law Judy Van Hux of Kissimmee, FL; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; his lifelong and cherished friend, Brent Fleming (Annette) of Scotland Neck; and close friend and supporter Rosiland Buck, FNP of Vanceboro.

A celebration of Wilson’s life will be held at Nahalah Presbyterian Church in Scotland Neck Thursday April 2 at 11am preceded by visitation in the educational building at 10am.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Nahalah Presbyterian Church, or the Scotland Neck Memorial Library.