NATICK: H. James Wilson, age 99, of Natick, died on Friday night, March 14, 2014, at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. His wife of more than 70 years, Martha (Page) Wilson, preceded him in death on July 10, 2013.
Born in Drummond, Wisconsin in 1914, he was a son of the late William and Antoinette (Soukup) Wilson. He was raised and educated in Chetek, WI, and then earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame, his Master of Psychology from the University of Chicago and his Doctorate in Psychology from the University of Ottawa.
Jim enlisted in the Navy at the onset of World War II, where he served aboard the USS Salinas in both the Atlantic and Pacific theatres and was named the ship’s captain in 1944 at the age of 29. He was later recalled to active duty during the Korean War and remained in the Naval reserves until he retired as a Commander in 1974.
He and his family settled in Natick in 1947 and Jim worked as a psychologist for the Veteran’s Administration Hospital until his retirement. In the course of his career, he had also served as an adjunct professor in the Psychology Departments at Emerson College, and Suffolk and Boston Universities, amongst others. After his retirement, Jim and two members of the clergy established a counseling service where he continued to work into his nineties. He was a great fan of the Green Bay Packers and anything to do with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
He is survived by his children, H. James Wilson II and his wife Betsy of Newton, Pamela M. Wilson of Wellesley, Cindy Wilson of Southborough, and Bradley P. Wilson and his wife Mary of Wellesley; 14 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Jim was also predeceased by his siblings, Lloyd, Mildred, Pauline, and Leonard Wilson.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Saint Linus Church, 119 Hartford Street, Natick, on Monday, March 24th at 11:00a.m. Burial with military honors will follow at Saint Patrick Cemetery. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend.
Visiting hours will be at the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street at Natick Common, on Sunday, March 23rd from 2 – 4p.m.
Expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to Emmanuel College, 400 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115. Please cite Martha Page Wilson, Class of 1940.