Victor Woodrow Wilson

Victor Woodrow “Woody” Wilson, 93, died peacefully on Wednesday, November 3, 2010. He was born in Roachdale, IN, and was the son of Ella Dodds Wilson and Gilbert Asa Wilson. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 57 years, Inez. He is survived by his second wife, Patricia Barnes of Jacksonville, who he married in 1999. He is also survived by his three children, Edwin Wilson, Jacksonville; Sallie (George) Ellinwood, Raleigh, NC; and Susan (Thomas) Stevens, Jacksonville; stepchildren Robert Barnes, Hawaii; Chalmers (Dana) Barnes, Jacksonville; and Patricia (Ed) Conte, Jacksonville; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, by marriage; nieces and nephews Dwight (Gloria) Wilson, Neptune Beach, FL; Gilbert (Beverly) Wilson, Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Dorothy Wilson, Neptune Beach, FL; and Samuel (Judy) Wilson, Jax Beach, FL.

Woody came to Jacksonville as a child and graduated from Landon High School. After attending business college he worked for Eastern Airlines and was also employed part-time by Prudential selling life insurance. He married his high school sweetheart, Inez Vrieze in 1940. He served honorably in the U.S. Navy as an air traffic controller in Patuxent River, Maryland during WWII. After his discharge from the Navy, he moved back to Jacksonville where he continued working for Prudential full time. Later, he joined Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company where he sold life insurance for most of his working years and retired as General Agent Emeritus. During this time he received the Chartered Life Underwriter designation; was a member of the Million Dollar Round Table; a member of the Estate Planning Council; and past President of the Jacksonville General Agents and Managers Association.

Woody had an extraordinary number of interests and hobbies. He loved boating and built several boats, his favorite being one he called "Poot." He hands-on also built a Cashiers, NC vacation home. He was an earnest outdoorsman, a lover of nature and wildlife. He was an avid fisherman, and fondly enjoyed traveling to Horseshoe Beach, FL, where he often fished with his many lifelong friends. He and his son Wyn took up skeet shooting as members of the Jacksonville Gun Club where he was a crack shot. In addition to duck, quail and dove hunting, Woody was an enthusiastic deer hunter and one of his favorite trips was to Colorado where he was the only one of a much younger group to get a giant mule deer.

He loved playing gin rummy, was an excellent player and loved teaching others to play. Woody loved to work on anything mechanical and is fondly remembered for his eager willingness to offer a helpful hand when family and friends needed something repaired - always keeping his trunk equipped with tools to perform the job.

Woody had many opportunities for travel and could not refuse an invitation. In addition to many travels throughout the United States he traveled to Canada twice, including Quebec for the Winter Carnaval where he tried snow sking; to Mexico where he snorkeled and hiked an ancient pyramid; to Greece and England with his three children; to Switzerland, France, Germany and Italy with his sons; and to Guatemala with his pals to duck hunt. He and his wife Pat traveled to Europe, enjoying a cruise with close friends to Spain and many other surrounding countries; and especially enjoyed a barge trip in France down the Seine River with Pat's son Rob.

He was a member of the All Saints Episcopal Church where he was a vestry member, and later the Saint John's Episcopal Cathedral. He was a member of San Jose Country Club, the River Club, the Florida Yacht Club, Ducks Unlimited, the Safari Club of Jacksonville and International, lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, lifetime member of the North American Hunting Club, the American Legion, and an avid supporter of the Jacksonville Symphony. Woody loved people and being in the scene and for the past six years especially enjoyed happy hour at the Carriage Club where he lived.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 13, 2010 at Hardage-Giddens Mandarin Chapel with The Very Reverend Katherine Moorehead officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Northeast Florida Community Hospice, 4266 Sunbeam Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32257 or the charity of your choice.

Arrangments are entrusted to Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin, 11801 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32223. Words of Comfort may be shared with the family at www.hgmandarin.com.