Jack Robert Wilson II

Colonel Jack R. Wilson, II passed away peacefully on March 24, 2023, in Apex, North Carolina, leaving both a family who loved him dearly and a legacy spanning 47 years of military and civilian service. He was 86 years old.

Shortly after his birth on December 23, 1936 in Pennsylvania, his family moved to Keyser, West Virginia. He attended Keyser High School where he met his future wife, Dolores Miers. He excelled in athletics, playing football for the Keyser High Golden Tornado. He then attended Potomac State College where he served as freshman class president, was selected to the ROTC Academic Honor Society, the Roth Honorary Society, and was a member of the Phi Sigma Nu men’s fraternity. After graduating in 1956, he moved on to West Virginia University where he was selected to the ROTC Academic Honorary Society Scabbard and Blade and was a member of the Sigma Theta Epsilon fraternity.

Upon graduation he was named a West Virginia University Distinguished Military Graduate and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. In 1969 he served a year in Vietnam with the 68th Medical Group. He eventually commanded the 44th Medical Brigade at Fort Bragg, NC where he deployed to Grenada in 1983 as part of Operation Urgent Fury. He retired as Assistant Chief of Staff of First Army at Fort George G. Meade, MD in 1988.

During his Army career he earned numerous medals and citations including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal. He retired from the Army to Columbia, Maryland, and launched a 17-year career with the U.S. Army Research Laboratory.

As proud as he was of his military and civil service careers, his real commitment was to his always growing family. He enjoyed organizing large family gatherings at the beach, the mountains, and their home. He loved being outdoors, was an avid hunter, and was also a longtime member of the United Methodist Church.

Jack Wilson is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 63 years, Dolores (Miers) Wilson. He is also survived by his four children and their spouses; Jack and Brigetta Wilson of Chesterfield, VA; Daniel and Karen Wilson of Williamsburg, VA; Karen and Scott Wayland of Rocky Mount, NC, and Mark and Angelia Wilson of Apex, NC , along with 11 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. He is survived as well by his sister Sharon Summers of Columbia, MD and his brother Scott Wilson of Bridgeport, WV. He was preceded in death by his parents J. Robert Wilson and Rachel Romayne (Williams) Wilson of Keyser, WV.

Memorial services for Mr. Wilson will be held on Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 2:00 PM at Apex Funeral Home, 550 W. Williams Street, Apex, NC 27502. Colonel Wilson’s interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors at a future date.

Memories and expressions of condolences for the Wilson family can be shared online at ApexFuneral.net