Jack Wilson, 91, passed into the arms of our Lord on May 17, 2015 with his wife, Katheryn, by his side.
Jack was born on January 7, 1924 to parents, Addison Wheeler Wilson and Christina Louise Barnhart Wilson. He was the oldest of six children. Because his mother passed at an early age, Jack and the other Wilson children were raised by his father and stepmother, Mildred. Jack is survived by Katheryn, his loving wife of 53 years, his children, Ron Wilson of Arizona, Jack Wilson of Arizona, Rex Wilson of Fillmore, Becky Wilson McCarthy of Camarillo, Steve Curnett of Washington and Tom Curnett of Fillmore. His younger sister, Betty Lewis preceded him in death; however, he is also survived by his brothers, Addison “Junior” Wilson (Thelma), George Wilson (Jeanne), and sisters, Juliene Wilson Tackett and Helen Wilson Utterback. Jack leaves behind ten grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
Like so many of the “Great Generation”, after graduating from high school in 1942, Jack joined the U.S. Army Air Corps. He received officer cadet training at the University of Tennessee, flight training (for the B-24 Liberator in Tennessee and aerial gunnery school in Florida. Jack was assigned to the 15th Army Air Corps led by General Jimmy Doolittle. Jack was deployed in early December, 1944 by a “liberty ship” to the Mediterranean Theater of War, landing at Tunisia, North Africa. From there the unit was transported by boxcar to the Pantanella Airbase north of Rome. Jack was assigned to the 781st Bomb Squadron and was attached to the 465th Heavy Bombing Group. During combat, Jack’s duty was as a flight engineer and the ball turret was his combat station. After bombing attacks, Jack’s job also involved photographing the bombing results.
Upon completion of 25 combat sorties, Jack had been decorated with a Battle Ribbon with Silver Star, the Air Medal with Bronze Cluster, air crew wings, and the EAME Campaign Ribbon.
After the war, Jack returned home to Indiana and started civilian life, raising his family and working for International Harvester. In the early 1950’s he sought new opportunities and moved his family to Santa Paula, California where he became a restaurant owner and weekend race car driver. He raced jalopies on dirt tracks with someone many will remember, Rufus P. Parnelli Jones.
Jack and Kay married in 1962 combining their families to include taking all six children on a road trip honeymoon.
Jack worked for over 50 years as a proud union carpenter. Jack served as an officer for the local union hall and worked as building superintendent for such Ventura county landmarks as Santa Paula Hospital, Fillmore Safeway, Rio Mesa High School, and Ventura Bank of America.
In retirement, Jack played golf, gardened and shared his love of carpentry by helping with remodeling/restoration jobs for friends after earthquakes and floods. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Fillmore. Jack and Kay also enjoyed extensive travel and had the great pleasure to see much of our country and several overseas countries.
Graveside services will be held at the Bardsdale Cemetery on Friday, May 22nd at 1:00p.m.
Services entrusted to Skillin-Carroll Mortuary 600 Central Ave, Fillmore, CA (805) 524-0744.