James F. Wilson, 89, passed away peacefully at home in Powell on Friday, May 22, surrounded by his family. Even though he suffered from Alzheimer’s, his death was from Acute Leukemia which was diagnosed in April. Jim was born June 11, 1925, in Wichita, Kansas, to Aubrey Victor and Mabel Clare (Hunt) Wilson.
He attended Wichita East High School and after serving in WWII with the 349th Airborne Troop Carrier Group in North Africa and Europe, he returned to Wichita. Having no place to live, he took a job washing cars at the Byrd-Snodgrass Funeral Home and they let him sleep in the basement. He eventually attended the Kansas City College of Mortuary Science and served his apprenticeship at Byrd-Snodgrass. He was later promoted to Funeral Director there.
Upon leaving the funeral business, he became a pharmaceutical salesman and, eventually, national sales manager for two pharmaceutical companies. He also sold medical electronics for a brief time before getting into the wholesale jewelry business from which he retired.
Known for his sense of humor (which he inherited from his mother), Jim could rattle off one joke after another as well as one liners. Although he had forgotten all the jokes, the one liners kept coming until the end.
Jim married Barbara Johnson on November 8, 1947, and they had five children. Barbara passed away in March of 1969. He then married Sylvia Felver on July 17, 1971, and she survives. In addition to his first wife, Jim was preceded in death by his parents, brother and his first son, James F. Wilson II. In addition to Sylvia, Jim is survived by his children Jayme Daniell, Janet (Brad) Forward, Jeffry (Deb) and Jean Wilson (Geof Dixon). Also surviving are 4 grandchildren and 3 step-grandchildren, as well as 2 great grandchildren and 9 step-great grandchildren.
Jim was a life member of the Brig. Gen. Paul W. Tibbetts Memorial VFW Post 2398 and was their first Commander when the post was formed. He and Sylvia were members of the Kilbourne Dancing Club in Worthington for 30 years. Jim also played Santa for 13 years in the Shaker Square neighborhood in Worthington. Most recently, Jim enjoyed his Wednesday meetings with his friends at the Day Out Club of the Delaware County Alzheimer’s Association.
Visitation with the family will be held 2-4PM and 6-8PM on Thursday, May 28, 2015, at the Schoedinger Worthington Chapel, 6699 N. High Street, Worthington, OH. A VFW Tribute will take place at 7:30 PM, that evening.
Following cremation, the family will hold a private interment at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Jim’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association of Central Ohio, 1379 Dublin Rd., Columbus, OH 43215; the Ohio Health Hospice, 800 McConnell Dr., Columbus, OH 43214 or the charity of your choice.
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