Obituary of Wilborn Harrison Wilson, JR

Wilborn H. Wilson, Jr. 4/06/1938 - 1/19/2023 LCDR Wilborn Harrison “Harry” Wilson Jr., (USN Ret) passed away on Jan 19, 2023. Harry was born in Deland, Florida to Alice Dubose Wilson and W.H. Wilson, Sr. Harry’s father was a travelling Southern Baptist Preacher, and Harry’s youth was spent moving to various towns in the Southeast. He joined the Navy at 17 years old, as an Airman Recruit. Shortly thereafter, he was chosen to go through Flight School in Pensacola, Fl. He served on active duty from 1955 - 1969 and retired from the US Naval Reserves. He married Joan L. Newton the same day he received his wings in 1959, and they had two children: Gwendolyn Marie Wilson and David A Wilson, born in January and December of 1961, respectively. During his active-duty career, Harry was stationed on Midway Island, which was a wonderful adventure for him and his family. Harry and Joan were divorced in 1974. While serving in the Navy Reserves, Harry went to work for Southern Bell (now AT&T) as a Communications Engineer in Pensacola, FL, where he met and married Janice S Fowler Yates. He became "PapPaw" to Janice’s children: Elaine Padgett Folsom, Yma Yvonne Yates, and Shannon Paul Yates. Harry retired from AT&T around 1990 but continued to work as a Communications contractor on jobs that took him to Illinois, Central FL , Saudi Arabia and Korea. Upon retirement, Harry indulged in his favorite hobbies: tinkering on anything with a motor, photography, gemology, computers, genealogy, reading or watching science fiction and John Wayne movies, serving on the Board of Cottage Hill Water Works, and working crossword puzzles. He could solve a Rubik’s Cube in about two minutes. Harry lived a life full of all kinds of adventure and he never met a stranger. He was a living example of "if you can't say something good about somebody, don't say anything at all.” He was a kind and gentle soul and treated everyone with kindness and respect. He was a true gentleman. Harry was predeceased by his wife of 45 years, Janice S Wilson; his parents, W. H. and Alice Wilson; his brother, Jim Wilson; numerous cousins and uncles from a family of six uncles; stepdaughter, Yma Yvonne Yates, and stepson, Shannon Paul Yates. Harry is survived by his daughter, Gwen Wilson Khalil of Pensacola; his son, David A Wilson of France; his children's mother, Joan Wilson Hill of Pensacola; his sister, Mary Mills of New York State; stepdaughter, Elaine (Kenny) Folsom of Marianna, FL, dear family friend, Debbie Stevens Phillips; Grandchildren: Luke (Mary) Wheeler; Miranda and Rusty Mitchell; Layla and Yasmine Alkatib, all of Chicago, IL; Tanner Padgett of Tallahassee, FL; Alicia M Boutwell of Panama City, FL; Ryan (Ciara) Folsom of Dothan, AL; Jennie M Farrar of Milton, FL. Great grandchildren: Emma, Noah, Grace, Mitchell, Alyssa, Jordyn, Finn, Piper, and special friends, Robert Tensley and Gary Medley, his cousin Trevor Wilson, and numerous other cousins from the lineage of the six uncles. LCDR W H (Harry) Wilson Jr.,(USN Ret) is laid to rest at Ft. Barrancas US Naval Cemetery in Pensacola, FL with his wife, Janice S Wilson.