Jack R. Wilson

Wilson, Jack R., 80, of St. Petersburg, FL died Thursday July 14, 2005 at the Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bay Pines, FL. The son of Jesse T. & Rosebud A. Wilson, he was born in Delta, CO in 1925 and moved to Alabama as an infant. He settled in Allentown, Santa Rosa County, FL and was a graduate of Allentown School. Jack was a WW II Navy veteran, where he served as crew captain in the Combat Air Crew #36G. He attended Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL and then graduated from Florida State University in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree. While at FSU, he played on the varsity baseball, basketball, and volleyball teams and was the captain and catcher on the first baseball team. He received a Master's Degree in public health from Tulane Medical School in New Orleans, LA. He worked for the Leon County Parks & Recreation Department and then the health departments in Leon and Martin Counties. He moved to St. Petersburg in 1958 from Tallahassee and retired from the Pinellas County Health Department in 1983. He then became involved in the citrus industry. He was a member and a past President of the Voyager Beach Club in Treasure Island, FL. He was an avid sportsman and enjoyed golf, tennis, horseshoes, & fishing. Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Billie Jean; a daughter, Jan E. Retz, Tallahassee; five brothers: Wayne, Montrose, AL; Ned, Eufaula AL; Frank, Gulf Breeze, FL; Roger, Cocoa, FL; and Gerald, Jupiter, FL; three sisters: Elaine Nettles, Pensacola, FL; Wanda Haines, Greenwood, SC; and Elizabeth Hughes, De Armanville, AL; and two granddaughters, Shannon Retz Johnson of Anaheim, CA and Victoria M. Retz of Tallahassee. He was preceded in death by his son, Scott R. Wilson of St. Petersburg, FL and his brother, Jean T. Wilson of Atmore, AL. Friends may call Thursday July 21, 2005 from 4:00PM until 7:00PM at Anderson-McQueen Funeral & Cremation Centers-Tyrone Chapel, 7820-38th Ave. N., where a funeral service will be held on Friday July 22, 2005 at 11:00AM. Interment will follow at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL. Online guestbook @ www.andersonmcqueen.com