John C. Wilson

John (Jack) Charles Wilson passed peacefully from the arms of his family into the arms of his Savior on January 23, 2025.

Jack was born to William (Bill) and Joyce Wilson on May 21, 1958, in Rochester, New York. He enjoyed a childhood filled with family trips, playing baseball and hockey, skiing, and hunting with friends and family.

After high school, he enlisted in the Navy, where he served for 6 years. He was at sea during the Iran Hostage Crisis. He met his wife Liz while they were both stationed in Pensacola, FL, in 1978, and they were married two years later in Honolulu, HI. It was while in the Navy that he accepted Christ as Savior as the result of the witness of a shipmate.

Following his honorable discharge, Jack enrolled at Washington Bible College, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree. He began his 34 plus year academic career at Granite Baptist Church School in 1986. He taught 5th grade before transitioning to High School to teach Bible, History, French, and other classes. Along the way, he earned his Master’s in Secondary Education from Bowie State University in 1996. He served over twenty years as the athletic director and coached high school boys’ and girls’ soccer, girls’ basketball, and junior high boys’ basketball. His boys both had the privilege of being in his classes and on his (championship) teams. He served as the principal of Granite for several years before the Lord called him away to serve as the principal and assistant to the principal for Grace Christian School in Bowie, Maryland, until his retirement in 2021. During his time off from school in the summers, Jack served for twenty-five years an interpretive Park Ranger at Fort McHenry.

He enjoyed sharing his hobbies with friends and family, including golf (he shot in the 70s), hunting (he made the NY State Big Buck Club in 1986), playing and watching sports (he was a fan of the Baltimore Orioles, New York Jets, and Chicago Blackhawks), playing strategic war games (you should see his miniature Imperial French army), playing chess (he even created a Bobby Fischer scrapbook), reading (books on theology and history were his favorite), writing (including his novel, "Love’s Orphan"), and spending time in God’s creation (especially while maintaining his property, “Just-a-Mere Camp,” in NY). He loved his wife and children well and could be found in the crowd at his grandchildren’s games and performances.

Most importantly, Jack spent time with his Lord and Savior. He read from the same King James Bible for decades and could tell you exactly where on a certain page a passage could be found. This Bible has decades of notes and insights written in the margins. He was a faithful servant at church, where he was a deacon, Sunday School teacher, fill in preacher, and choir member. Although he was a great man, he understood that his works were insufficient and he was in absolute need of God’s grace.

He will be missed dearly by his family and the many people that have been touched by his generous life.

Jack was predeceased by his parents Bill and Joyce Wilson and is survived by his wife of 44 years, Elizabeth Wilson; son John B. Wilson (Rachael); son Mark A. Wilson (Amanda); and his eight grandchildren: Abby (16), Jack (13), Ethan (13), Tucker (11), Micah (11), Katie (9), Sam (5), and Eleanor (3). He is also survived by his siblings: Beth Feeney, Kathy Gosper, and Michael Wilson.

To close, we would like to let him speak for himself:

“Most importantly, I wish to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I can’t imagine my life without Him in it. God’s mercy and grace toward me are more than I can do justice with mere words. It is my hope that those who [know me] would find something [in me] that points them to Him and the ultimate meaning of life. May you discover that regardless of the storms you are going through, our God is watching over you and is ready to answer the moment you call upon His name.”

In lieu of flowers and in honor of Jack's lifelong passion for Christian education, donations can be made to:

Grace Christian School of Bowie, MD

7210 Race Track Rd

Bowie, MD 20715

gcsbowie.org

Bethlehem Christian School of Bethlehem, PA

3100 Hecktown Rd.

Bethlehem, PA 18020

bethlehemchristianschool.org