Obituary of John Sterling Wilson

John Sterling "Jack" Wilson, age 86, a resident of the Rydal Park Community died on October 12, 2017.

Jack was born August 13, 1931 in Philadelphia, PA. He was the son of Walter Fulton Wilson and Pearl (Gladys Curry) Wilson. He grew up in Fox Chase, Philadelphia along with his older sister Doris Pearl, later moving with his parents and sister Doris (later Weinsheimer) to the Lawndale Section of Philadelphia.

He graduated from Central High School in June 1949, Class of 192. He matriculated in the University of Pennsylvania in September 1949 and in 1950 as a sophomore was the recipient of a four-year Naval Reserve Officer Training Corp. (NROTC) scholarship. He graduated from the College at Penn in June 1953 and enrolled in Wharton Graduate School for the remaining, fourth year of his scholarship, and was commissioned as an Ensign, USN on June 15, 1954. Jack served in the U. S. Naval Supply Corp., first as Disbursing Officer of the USS Tidewater (AD-31), and subsequently as Supply and Disbursing Officer of LST Squadron Four out of Little Creek, VA. where he completed his three-year tour of activity duty.

Jack was introduced to Jane Estelle Clark in March of 1952 by their mutual friend Janet Marie Classe. They became engaged shortly thereafter, and were married on June 19, 1954 after Jack's commission. Following their marriage, they lived in Athens, GA for three months while Jack attended Naval Supply Corp. school conducted by the Navy at the University of Georgia. With his assignment to the Tidewater they moved to Norfolk, VA where they lived until Jack's release from activity duty in June 1957. He and Jane then took up residence in Montgomery County, PA, initially in North Hills until 1965 when they moved into their then newly built home in Custis Woods, Glenside, PA.

Following his tour on active duty Jack joined the Philadelphia audit staff of Price Waterhouse & Co, (later PricewaterhouseCoopers) where he became an audit manager. He left PW in November 1964 for a position with one of its clients in Wynnewood, PA, Lease Financing Corporation (LFC) where he subsequently became Senior Vice President & Treasurer. LFC, originally privately owned, became an affiliate of PNC Bank in Philadelphia, and then a majority owned subsidiary of a PNC client, Superior Tube Company of Wynnewood, PA. Jack remained with LFC until his retirement at the age of 51 in January 1983.

Jack and Jane have two children, Elizabeth Ann Dorf, wife of Robert Andrew Dorf and Bryan Sterling Wilson, husband of Lara Jeane Kissner Wilson, and four grandchildren; Elisielle Lara, Verreth Sterling, Tyden Erik and Clairenne Joyce.

Jack and family were members of Glenside Methodist Church where he served for a period as treasurer, and subsequently members of Abington Presbyterian Church. He was a member of Friendship William Masonic Lodge 400 in Jenkintown, PA, of Philadelphia Scottish Rite Consistory, of A.A.O.N.M.S. LuLu Shriners in Plymouth Meeting, PA., and of Montgomery County Shrine Club. He was a life member of the American and Pennsylvania Institutes of Certified Public Accountants.

In 1975, Jack and Jane became members of LuLu Country Club of North Hills, PA where they played together on Sundays and occasionally in mixed tournaments, always hoping to break something other than windows, most of the time successful. They also became members of Manufacturers' Golf & Country Club of Oreland, PA in 1983, and of Rio Verde Country Club of Rio Verde, AZ in 1993 where they wintered. The multiplicity of club memberships did nothing to reduce Jack's golf handicap. They traveled to France, England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland, the latter being where Jack and son Bryan enjoyed a round of golf together in 1991. As for domestic travel, in addition to visiting Bryan and family in MA, they traveled alone and with friends to California, New Mexico, Georgia, Florida, and islands in the Caribbean.

Jack was a devoted and selfless husband, father, grandfather and friend. He always tried to make other people's lives easier. His family and close friends were very fortunate, knowing that in times of trouble he would always be there for them, giving of his time, resources, and anything in his power to provide for them. Each of us would hope to be missed after we've gone. Jack will not have had to hope.

Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, October 18, 2017, Helweg & Rowland Funeral Home, 1059 Old York Road, Abington, where relatives and friends will be received from 10:00 – 11:00 AM. Entombment will be in Lawnview Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Shriners Hospital for Children, Attn: Donations, 3551 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140 (www.shrinershospitals.org/donate)