Nathen Douglas Wilson

Nathen Wilson, a 19-year-old baseball player from Virginia, died in a motorcycle accident on Monday October 14, 2024. Survived by Parents Tasha East, Jonathan East (Stepdad) Christian Lyons (biological dad); a brother Kadan East, siblings Michael & Averie Simpson, grandparents Chris & Brenda Filippone, Doug & Cindy Wilson and Eddie & Janet East; aunts and uncles, Ashley & David Nemo, Britney Colonna (Andrew),Cassie & Ricky Cavazos, Apryl & Ryan Hunley and Jennifer Farris; cousins, Kyle & Colton Nemo, Skylar Colonna, Jadan Farris, Tyler & Hannah Hunley, along with many extended aunts, uncles & cousins, great grandma, Lillian Filippone; special friend, Payton Hobson; close friends & teammates Logan, Mason, Kole, Jordan, Braxton, Nathaneal, Alex, Cayden, Joel, Jess, Abi, 1st cousins, Bryson, Sophia, & Arya Cavazos, Lane & Addison Isbell.
And so many more friends, teammates & baseball communities. He was preceded in death by close friends Cameron Diggs, Wyatt Newman and great uncle Ricky Lowery.
“He was one of the best guys I ever met, a super responsible dude, very on-schedule guy,” said Joel Montano, an 18-year-old first baseman who lived with Wilson. “You couldn’t ask for a better roommate, either. He brought a lot of joy to our team. There was a smile and energy that he brought that was just different. He gave us that extra push whenever our team was down. He would always be there for anybody.” Wilson first came to Palm Springs in June to play in the Power Summer Collegiate League, an affiliate league of the Palm Springs Power. He had just finished his freshman year at Christopher Newport University, a public college in Newport News, Virginia. Intrigued by his potential, local coaches convinced Wilson to move to Palm Springs to be a part of the California Post Graduate baseball team, an eight-month development program for players taking a gap year from college. The program includes a 50-game season and is intended to help players improve while they maintain their college eligibility. As he continued recovering from a shoulder injury he’d suffered before coming to California, Wilson played designated hitter for the Post Graduate team, fine-tuning his batting as he sought a college scholarship to continue his passion. “He was a team captain and a team leader. His work ethic was second to none. He was the first person to practice every day,” said Casey Dill, director of baseball operations for California Post Graduate.
“He was in the best shape out of anybody. He had the body of an NFL cornerback. For a 19-year-old to be in as good shape as he was, it was incredible. He was very well respected. He carried himself just with the utmost of character, loved and respected by his teammates and by his coaches.” His death came as a shock to his teammates and coaches, who knew Wilson as a responsible man who seldom took unnecessary risks. He had sold his truck and purchased a motorcycle to save on gas and was known to take drives to help clear his head. The team brought in a counselor on Wednesday to help process the loss. “It really broke me down. I tried not to show it at first to keep the team strong,” Montano said. “It was more than just a teammate I lost. It was a brother and one of the best friends that I had.” The Post Graduate organization is raising money for funeral costs and hopes to establish a foundation in Wilson’s honor. “He wasn’t just a great player, but also a sweet and kind soul, a king in his own right who uplifted those around him with a positive attitude and infectious spirit,” said Dywayne Green, Wilson’s strength and conditioning coach. “His presence will be deeply missed, but his legacy of love, heart and kindness will live on in all of us who had the honor of knowing him.”

The family will receive friends on Friday from 5pm to 7pm in Amory Funeral Home, Grafton, Va. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday at Plains Marketing L.P. Clubhouse in Yorktown, 2421 Waterview Road, Yorktown, VA 23692 from 2pm – 6pm If you would like to help out the family a gofundme account has been set up https://gofund.me/ 8c2c07a4