Robert Edward Wilson, 76, of Portland, formerly of Warrenton, died Monday, July 21, 2008, in Portland.

He was born Sept. 10, 1931, in Seaside, to Francis Marion “Doc” and Frances Runa (Sigurdson) Wilson. He graduated from Warrenton High School in 1949. When he was 19 years old, he was the third person in the U.S. to undergo open heart surgery at Johns Hopkins University, and the first person to survive.

On Oct. 14, 1960, he married Jean Allan. They later divorced.

In 1964, Mr. Wilson moved to Greeley, Colo. From 1964 until his medical retirement in 1977, he was a senior accountant for Hensel Phelps Construction Company. During that time he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. In 1979, he moved back to Portland.

He was involved with the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Portland, and served as president, secretary and treasurer.

He is survived by a daughter, Julie Ann Wilson of Greeley; a son, Randall Allan Wilson of Denver; three grandsons, Brian Thomas and Cory Allan Wilson of Greeley and Cameron James Wilson of Denver; a brother and sister-in-law, Fred O. and Virginia Wilson of Portland; a sister, Marion Krebs of Encinitas, Calif.; two nephews, Terry A. and Daniel J. Wilson of Portland; and many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by two sisters.

A memorial will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at the United Methodist Church in Warrenton. A reception will follow at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Portland or the United Methodist Church of Warrenton, in care of Hughes-Ransom Cremation & Mortuaries, 220 N. Holladay Drive, Seaside, OR 97138.