Obituary of James F. Wilson, Sr.

Mr. James F. Wilson Sr., 89, of 3154 Meadow View Lane, Auburn, passed away Saturday, March 12, 2016 at The Commons on St. Anthony Street, Auburn. A native and lifelong Auburn resident, he was the son of Frederick H. and Katherine Mc Kendrick Wilson. A member of the first graduating class of LeMoyne College in 1951, he had previously graduated from Auburn East High. He was an enlistment in the U.S. Army Air Corps, at the age of 17, and was a veteran of World War II, having served in the 57th Fighter Group, and had been stationed in the Aleutian Islands, during the war. Mr. Wilson had retired from Miller Brewing Company, Auburn as the Director of Human Resources, and executive sales; having previously been the owner of Ethan Allen Employment Agency in Auburn. Earlier he had been in executive sales/marketing with Carrier Corporation and Cellotex Corporation. His memberships included St. Alphonsus Church, 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, American Legion, former Parish Council member at St. Alphonsus, as well as an usher until 1985. During retirement he enjoyed traveling, spending winters in Myrtle Beach and Florida. Being with the grandchildren and great-grandchildren were his favorite times. He was a devoted father and husband. Surviving is his wife, Winifred M. Wilson; children, Timothy (Lois) Bergan, of Great Valley, N.Y., Lynn (Bristol) Pitts, of Freedom, Maine, Susan (Jill Ulbricht) Wilson, of Ithaca, James (Mary) Wilson, of Simpsonville, S.C., Danielle Bergan, of Napili, Hawaii, Deborah (David) Franceschelli, of Denver, N.C., Maureen (James) Copploa, of Auburn, Lisa (Michael) Cuddy, of Auburn, Christopher (Patty) Sheehy, of Jordan, Jenifer (Donald) Szozda, of Auburn, and Gregory Sheehy, of Windermere, Fla.; son-in-Law, Thomas Delaney, of Auburn; 18 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren, with twins due in September; sisters/brother, Barbara (William) Youtt, of Atlanta, Ga., Peter Wilson, of Rome, N.Y., and Ruth Shablak, of Middletown, Ohio; many nieces, nephews, and close cousins. He was predeceased by his parents; wives, Joan Perkins Wilson, and Patricia Bergan Wilson; a stepdaughter, Deborah Bergan Delaney; a sister, Joan Wilson Walsh, and special cousin, Beth Mryglot Sims who passed away March 9, 2016. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 16, 2016 in St. Alphonsus Church with the Rev. Timothy Niven, Pastor as celebrant. Interment with full military honors will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Calling hours will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. (today) Tuesday, March 15, 2016 at Farrell’s Funeral Service Inc., 84 South St., Auburn. Memorials may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.