Dr. John T. Wilson, Jr. departed this life at the age of 91 on March 5th, 2016. Dr. Wilson was born in 1924 in Birmingham, Alabama. He attended Parker High School in Birmingham, and upon graduation attended Howard University, in Washington, D.C. While at Howard, he pledged Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., Alpha Chapter, in 1943 and was a member of the Beta Kappa Chi, science honorary society. He went on to receive his Bachelor of Science degree in 1946. Dr. Wilson furthered his education by receiving his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) and his Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) degrees from Columbia University and University of Cincinnati.
Dr. Wilson served in the United States Army briefly in 1944 where he was a Corporal and earned the rating of a demolitions specialist. Professionally, Dr. Wilson taught at UC Berkley, Stanford University, Howard University, and the University of Washington. Dr. Wilson worked several years with Lockheed Corporation, where he served as a science observer and planner in corporate development planning, with responsibilities in the areas of Aerospace Medicine, Bioastronautics, and Biomedical Development. At Howard University, Dr. Wilson was the Chairman of the Department of Community Health. At the University of Washington, Dr. Wilson chaired the Department of Environmental Health until his retirement in 1991.
Dr. Wilson has been a contributing member of several national advisory boards and has participated with several community service organizations including the United Way, various health and medical care groups, and was a life member of the NAACP. Dr. Wilson also served as a director of the Emerald City Bank in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Wilson’s work and achievements been featured in Time, Jet, and Ebony Magazines, in addition to numerous other publications and he has also been the recipient of a Distinguished Alumnus Award from his alma mater, Howard University for his accomplishments.
Dr. Wilson is preceded in death by his father, John T. Wilson Sr., mother, Rosalie Rush Wilson, and half-sisters, OlaCeal Wilson and Francis Fletcher of Birmingham, Alabama. Dr. Wilson is survived by his loving wife, Artee F. Young Wilson, daughter, Laura Wilson Townsend (John), son, Robert Crayton Young, grand-daughter, Robyn Felicita Young, grandson, Pryce Crayton Young, cousins, Irene Harrison and Christine Wright of Birmingham, Alabama.
Sunday, March 13, 2016 Monday, March 14, 2016
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm Viewing 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm Viewing
2:30 pm Funeral Service
Gaffney Funeral Home St. Leo’s Church
1002 South Yakima Ave. 710 South 13th St.
Tacoma, WA 98405 Tacoma, WA 98405
Reception will be held immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to support Alzheimer’s disease research. Donations can be made in memory of Dr. John T. Wilson to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America at www.alzfdn.org or mail to:
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America
322 Eighth Ave., 7th Floor
New York, NY 10001
