John Frederick Wilson, 88, of Oil City, passed away peacefully on Friday morning, May 30, 2014 following a period of declining health.
Born February 4, 1926 in Reidsburg, Clarion County, he was the son of the late John T. and Elva G. Myers Wilson.
He worked as a coal miner at Keystone Mines in Rimersburg prior to enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1944.
He was a World War II veteran who saw action in four invasions: Leyte, Anglar, Luzon, and Iwo Jima. He served aboard the USS Thomas Jefferson transporting troops to and from battle areas, and the USS Jupiter, which was assigned to the amphibious forces. Mr. Wilson earned four battle stars, and a letter of commendation was awarded to him by President Harry Truman in 1946.
Following his discharge from the Navy, he was employed by J&L Steel, the Dept. of Highways, National Transit Pipeline, and the Oil Well Supply Co., a division of U.S. Steel, where he worked as a welder, until his retirement in December of 1986.
John was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Oil City, the V.F.W. and the American Legion. He was a devoted husband and father; and enjoyed tinkering on the family cars and attending car shows with his son.
He was married on January 24, 1948 in Clarion to the former Jane Phillips, and she preceded him in death on December 31, 2010.
Surviving are two daughters, Linda Wilson of Oil City and Sharon Kijowski and her husband Alan of Freeport; three sons, Phillip Wilson of Pittsburgh, Scott Wilson and his wife Carol of Seneca, and Jerry Wilson and his wife Lori of Jefferson Hills. Also surviving are three grandchildren, Alex, Jason and Brian Kijowski, all of Freeport; and two step-grandchildren, Doug Keil of Seven Fields and Matt Keil of North Carolina.
A private viewing and funeral service is being held for the immediate family.
Interment will be in Grove Hill Cemetery in Oil City.
Funeral arrangements are being completed by the Hile-Best Funeral Home, Inc. in Seneca, Cranberry Township.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 215 East Bissell Ave., Oil City PA 16301; the Venango Co. Humane Society, PO Box 1045, Oil City PA 16301, or to the Visiting Nurses Assoc., 491 Allegheny Blvd., Franklin PA 16323.
To express a condolence to the family online, please visit www.hilebest.com.
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