1927
Richard
2014
Richard O. Wilson
June 19, 1927 — December 13, 2014
Richard "Dick" Wilson (87), a Kent resident since 1958, died Saturday, December 13 of Alzheimer's disease at Maison Aine Nursing Home in Stow, OH.
Dick was born June 19, 1927 in Eau Claire, WI to Elmer W. and Ida Harville Wilson. He graduated from Rootstown High School in 1945, where he made his home with his grandparents Thomas and Grace Harville. After graduation, he joined the Navy and served on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Leyte. After serving in the Navy for two years, he attended Kent State University where he received his Bachelor of Science and Master's degrees in Education. He began his teaching and coaching career at Rootstown High School where for eight years, he taught biology and coached basketball, track, and football. He met the love of his life, Patricia Metcalf, in the fall of 1957 when, as a new teacher, she was hired to teach home economics and assist him as advisor to the freshman class. The students, playing match-makers, successfully orchestrated a marriage of 56 years in June of 1958. Many of their students attended the wedding.
In the fall of 1959, Dick transferred to Kent City Schools, teaching biology at both Davey Junior High School and Roosevelt High School. He also coached ninth grade basketball and assisted with the high school football team. He started the track and field program at Davey Junior High where he had several very successful seasons. In 1962, he became the assistant principal of Davey Junior High, moving up to Assistant Principal at Roosevelt in 1969, where he stayed until he retired in 1982.
An avid fisherman and collector of antique fishing lures, one of his favorite jobs was teaching an undergraduate fishing class at Kent State University for a period of five years after his retirement from public school teaching. He was a member of the Ohio High School Athletic Association, where he was a state track official for many years, Ohio Education Association, Northeast Ohio Teacher's Association, Portage County Retired Teacher's Association. Dick was also a member and officer of the National Fishing Lure Collector's Club, planning and attending many local and national shows. He was a member of Faith Lutheran Church, where he served as an usher.
Dick is survived by his wife Patricia C. (Metcalf) Wilson, whom he married June 24, 1958 at Faith Lutheran Church in Kent; sons Richard K. (Allison) Wilson of Chesterfield, MO and Jeffrey O. (Ellisha) Wilson of Elizabethtown, KY; grandchildren, twins Taylor and Evan Wilson, Kristin, Rachel and Jack Wilson, and, half-sister and brother Marsha Ellis and Del Cameron of Alliance, OH, brother-in-law Roy Metcalf (Sue) of Twin Lakes, sisters-in law, Ann Gamble of Kent, and Elinor Wiant of Grand Island, NY; many cousins, nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Thomas Wilson, and sister-in-law Adelaine Koyle.
A memorial service will be held at Faith Lutheran Church in Kent, OH, 2:30 PM Thursday, December 18, where calling hours will be held from 1 PM until the time of service. The Wilson family sincerely thanks the staff of Maison Aine and Great Lakes Caring Hospice for their loving care shown to husband, father and grandfather.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Faith Lutheran Church, 931 E. Main Street, Kent, OH 44240.
Dick was born June 19, 1927 in Eau Claire, WI to Elmer W. and Ida Harville Wilson. He graduated from Rootstown High School in 1945, where he made his home with his grandparents Thomas and Grace Harville. After graduation, he joined the Navy and served on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Leyte. After serving in the Navy for two years, he attended Kent State University where he received his Bachelor of Science and Master's degrees in Education. He began his teaching and coaching career at Rootstown High School where for eight years, he taught biology and coached basketball, track, and football. He met the love of his life, Patricia Metcalf, in the fall of 1957 when, as a new teacher, she was hired to teach home economics and assist him as advisor to the freshman class. The students, playing match-makers, successfully orchestrated a marriage of 56 years in June of 1958. Many of their students attended the wedding.
In the fall of 1959, Dick transferred to Kent City Schools, teaching biology at both Davey Junior High School and Roosevelt High School. He also coached ninth grade basketball and assisted with the high school football team. He started the track and field program at Davey Junior High where he had several very successful seasons. In 1962, he became the assistant principal of Davey Junior High, moving up to Assistant Principal at Roosevelt in 1969, where he stayed until he retired in 1982.
An avid fisherman and collector of antique fishing lures, one of his favorite jobs was teaching an undergraduate fishing class at Kent State University for a period of five years after his retirement from public school teaching. He was a member of the Ohio High School Athletic Association, where he was a state track official for many years, Ohio Education Association, Northeast Ohio Teacher's Association, Portage County Retired Teacher's Association. Dick was also a member and officer of the National Fishing Lure Collector's Club, planning and attending many local and national shows. He was a member of Faith Lutheran Church, where he served as an usher.
Dick is survived by his wife Patricia C. (Metcalf) Wilson, whom he married June 24, 1958 at Faith Lutheran Church in Kent; sons Richard K. (Allison) Wilson of Chesterfield, MO and Jeffrey O. (Ellisha) Wilson of Elizabethtown, KY; grandchildren, twins Taylor and Evan Wilson, Kristin, Rachel and Jack Wilson, and, half-sister and brother Marsha Ellis and Del Cameron of Alliance, OH, brother-in-law Roy Metcalf (Sue) of Twin Lakes, sisters-in law, Ann Gamble of Kent, and Elinor Wiant of Grand Island, NY; many cousins, nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Thomas Wilson, and sister-in-law Adelaine Koyle.
A memorial service will be held at Faith Lutheran Church in Kent, OH, 2:30 PM Thursday, December 18, where calling hours will be held from 1 PM until the time of service. The Wilson family sincerely thanks the staff of Maison Aine and Great Lakes Caring Hospice for their loving care shown to husband, father and grandfather.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Faith Lutheran Church, 931 E. Main Street, Kent, OH 44240.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Richard O. Wilson, please visit our flower store.
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