HAMPDEN – John Edward Wilson, 79, husband of Lucille Wilson, passed away Dec. 1, 2007, surrounded by his family while at a Bangor hospital. He was born Feb. 1, 1928, in Brewer, the son of John B. and Ruth (Vereault) Wilson. John graduated from Bangor High School in 1946 and after graduation entered the U.S. Army. He was stationed at Los Alamos, N.M., serving from 1946 to 1948. After his military service, he went to work for the Maine Central Railroad, Bangor and worked there from 1948 to 1952. During this time he also attended the University of Maine. John graduated from the University of Maine with a Bachelor of Science in geology in 1953, and during 1953 went to work for New England Telephone Co., AT&T, New England Telephone and Nynex, and retired in 1990. For the 37 years with the telephone company in Bangor, he was an active member of the Telephone Pioneers. His other associations included the Town of Hampden Zoning Board of Appeals and Branch Pond Association. John was an avid outdoorsman, who spent many happy years at his home in Hampden and on Branch Pond, Ells-worth. He enjoyed gardening, hunting, fishing, photography and spending time with his family and friends. Above all, John was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and brother. John is survived by his wife of 54 years, Lucille (Shaw) Wilson of Hampden; his children, John and his wife, Donna and their children, Melissa, Anna and Emily, of Landenberg, Pa., Larry and his wife, Claire, and their children, Michelle, Carolyn and Thomas, of Norfolk, Mass., Karen Frye and her husband, Curt, and their children, Brett and Justin of Holden, Michael and his wife, Jo-Anna, and their children, Hilarie, Karla, Jennifer and John of Hampden, Cindy Jones and her husband, Ed, and their children, Adam and Alex of Seattle and Laura Wilson and her husband, Les French, and their daughter, Audrie of Hampden; a sister, Patricia Buswell of Eliot; nieces and nephews. Visiting hours will be held 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at Hampden-Gilpatrick Funeral Home, 45 Western Ave., Hampden. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, 70 Western Ave., Hampden, with the Rev. Robert Vaillancourt, pastor, celebrant. Private interment will be held at a future date. In keeping with John’s love of Branch Pond and his generous spirit, memorial donations may be made to the Branch Pond Association, P.O. Box 850, East Holden, ME 04429 or Hampden Neighborhood Food Cupboard, P.O. Box 9, Hampden, ME 04444. Messages of condolence or memories may be shared through www.hampdengilpatrick.com.
JOHN E. WILSON
