Gary Waine Wilson

Gary Waine Wilson, M.D., a pioneering Oklahoma ophthalmologist, Army veteran, devoted husband and father, and faithful follower of Jesus Christ, passed away peacefully on August 24, 2026, in Oklahoma City. He was 83.

Gary was born October 22, 1942, in Oklahoma City to Harold Waine Wilson and Dorothy Kuntz Wilson. He grew up in Lawton, participated in FFA, and graduated from Lawton High School in 1960. He began college at Cameron College intending to pursue agriculture. He showed prize-winning cattle and, in 1962, received the American Farmer Degree, FFA’s highest honor, at its national convention in Kansas City.

After several Lawton doctors encouraged him to pursue medicine, Gary changed direction and moved his studies to the University of Oklahoma. He entered the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine in 1964. After completing his first semester, he married Nancy Carolyn Coffman on December 27, 1964. For more than 61 years, their marriage was the center of a life built around faith, family, service, and shared purpose. Together they raised Dan and Teri.

Gary distinguished himself in medical school, earning the highest score in his class on both Parts I and II of the National Board examinations. He was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha, served as president of his senior class, and earned his medical degree in 1968.

After a one-year internship at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, he served two years as a captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. At Fort Gordon, Georgia, he served as Preventive Medicine Officer and Public Health Officer and received the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service.

Gary then returned to Henry Ford for his ophthalmology residency. He became Chief Resident and later joined the teaching staff. Under the mentorship of Gilbert Ogawa, M.D., he learned to perform ophthalmic surgery with an operating microscope in a time when relatively few residents received that training. He also began working with emerging laser technology—an early expression of the curiosity that would define his career. He was certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.

In 1975, Gary and Nancy returned with their family to Lawton, where he opened a private ophthalmology practice. His operating-microscope training served him well as he embraced advances in cataract surgery. He adopted phacoemulsification in 1978, years before the technique became standard throughout American ophthalmology. He also served two terms as Chief of Staff and two terms as Chief of Surgery at Southwestern Medical Center. In 1988, he founded Southwest Eye Institute, bringing surgical, medical, and optical eye care together in one comprehensive facility.

Gary’s interest in emerging technology eventually led him into refractive vision correction. In 1990, he traveled to Europe with a small group of American physicians to study excimer-laser surgery with pioneers in the developing field. In 1992, he became one of the first fourteen American surgeons certified in incisional keratotomy by the American Board of Eye Surgery, deepening his passion for helping patients see clearly without glasses. In 1994, Gary and his family opened ClearSight Center in northwest Oklahoma City. In 1995, he became the first surgeon in Oklahoma to perform FDA-approved excimer-laser vision correction for nearsightedness and later the first in the state to perform bladeless LASIK and CustomVue LASIK.

Gary found his greatest professional joy not in the technology itself, but in using it to restore his patients’ vision—giving them greater independence, renewed confidence, and new possibilities. He found equal meaning in the relationships he built with his employees, whom he cared for deeply and often regarded as extended family. He continued caring for patients until retiring at age 75 in 2017, completing more than four decades as an ophthalmologist and eye surgeon.

Gary and Nancy gave generously of their time and resources to Christian education. Gary served on the board of Lawton Christian School and supported the work begun by his father and sisters to make Christian education available to Lawton families. Both Dan and Teri attended and graduated from the school.

His Christian faith was the foundation of Gary’s life. He loved Scripture, spoke openly about Christ, and sought to conduct his family life, medical practice, and service to others according to biblical principles. He served as an elder at First Presbyterian Church in Lawton, and after moving to Edmond, he and Nancy became longtime members of Crossings Community Church. He supported Christian ministries and particularly valued Prison Fellowship. His deepest hope was one day to hear his Savior say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” His family takes comfort in believing that he has now heard those words.

Gary was intelligent, determined, generous, humorous, and a natural storyteller. On his earliest dates with Nancy, he delighted her with animated stories about his dog, Prince, complete with sound effects and impersonations. Decades later, that same gift made him a familiar voice through ClearSight’s radio advertisements, where memorable patient stories helped him explain how improved vision could change a life.

Outside of medicine, Gary was also interested in ideas and public policy and served as a trustee of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs. He was a gifted landscaper and gardener, loved fly fishing in Colorado, and was a devoted OU football fan. He often recalled his father’s lesson: “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well.” He carried that principle into his faith, family, medicine, and service, believing that his abilities were gifts to be cultivated and used for others.

Above all, Gary loved his family. After retiring, he treasured time with Nancy, Dan, Teri, his grandchildren, and his great-grandchildren. His grandchildren called him “Grandude,” and he often said, “A Grandude is higher than a Grand Duke!” His family will remember most clearly his faith, determination, generosity, intelligence, humor, and desire to use his life in service to God and others.

Gary is survived by his beloved wife, Nancy Carolyn Wilson; his son, Dan Wilson and wife Dana; his daughter, Teri Wilson Thomas and husband Jerry; his grandchildren, Hannah Wilson, Olivia Bodenski and husband Colin, Seth Wilson, Chase Johnson and wife Julia, Weston Johnson, Claire Batson and husband Robert, and Jesse Wilson; his great-grandchildren, Colt and Barrett Johnson; his brother, Rick Wilson, M.D., and wife Loyce; his sister, Patti Wilson Rhea; and a large extended family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold Waine and Dorothy Kuntz Wilson; his sister, Lynda Kaye Wilson Haire; his brothers-in-law, Curtis Harmon Haire Jr. and Robert Peter Rhea; and his infant grandson, Jacob Jeremiah Wilson.

The family will receive visitors from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, September 3, at Smith & Kernke Funeral Home’s North May Avenue location in Oklahoma City. A celebration of Gary’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 4, in the Chapel at Crossings Community Church in Oklahoma City. Burial with military funeral honors will take place at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 5, at Rose Hill Cemetery in Ardmore.

Generosity was a hallmark of Gary’s life. He quietly and faithfully supported many ministries, charities, and causes he believed in. Memorial gifts may be made to Prison Fellowship or Crossings Christian School.