Richard S. "Jack" Wilson

Mr. Richard Sanford “Jack” Wilson, of the Caney Spring Community, died Thursday evening, March 14, 2024, in Austin, Texas. He had been in Texas since December on an extended visit with his daughter and son-in-law, Carol and A. T. Campbell. He fell sick and passed quickly from pneumonia and congestive heart failure. 

Mr. Wilson was born in Cross Plains, Tennessee to John Walter Wilson and Clara V. Birdwell Wilson. He began as a farm boy where he learned the value of hard work. He stayed a hard-working farm boy his entire life even when he was nowhere near the farm.  

He joined the US Marine Corps at age 17 and served during the Cold War. He was stationed for much of that time in Hawaii, where he voted in the referendum that made Hawaii the 50th state. After his military service, he returned to Tennessee, where he lived in Nashville for nearly 20 years. He married, literally, the girl next door and started a family. He was a hard worker, a good provider, a loving father, and a decent man. He retired from Mead Corporation of Lewisburg after a long career. 

Mr. Wilson was a member of Chapel Hill Church of Christ and, until the last few years, was active in the church. One of his highlights was working at the church’s Monday School where he became known as “Daddy Jack” to a generation of Chapel Hill’s children. For several years, he was also part of the Senior group at Chapel Hill Community Center. 

Family was important to Richard. He loved talking about his children Carol and Tommy, his grandchildren, and even the neighborhood children in his “found family.” At Wilson family reunions he was always the first to arrive and the last to leave, so he could visit as long as possible with his adored brothers and sisters. 

Richard loved to travel. He liked nothing better than to hit the road with his wife Shirley, whom he wed in 1984. She rode shotgun and was an excellent navigator, helpmate, and all-around right-hand girl. They traveled the country in their motorhome, hitting most US states and parts of Canada. 

Richard Wilson was a voracious reader. His favorite authors included C. J. Box, Lee Child, Brett Cogburn, Ralph Compton, Zane Grey, Carl Hiaasen, William Johnstone, Elmer Kelton, Lous L’Amour, and Lane Warenski. His personal collection of Western fiction had more books than the Western sections of many bookstores. 

Richard’s humor, charm, and kindness will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him. “Smilin’ Jack” never met a stranger. He could go for a walk through your neighborhood and come back knowing the names of people you never met before. Every nurse who ever worked with him thought he was a good-natured wiseacre and their “favorite.” 

Mr. Wilson is survived by children, Carol Wilson (A.T.) Campbell, Austin, TX, Andy (Cindy) Stammer, Lewisburg, TN, Beth (Ricky) Sweeney, Caney Spring Comm.; grandchildren, Ryan (Vanessa) Sweeney, Sarah Stammer, Rachel Stammer (Brandon) Johnson, Lauren (Craig) Callaway; great grandchildren, Caleb Booth, Levi Johnson, Asa Johnson, Addie Johnson; brother, Johnny Wilson of Gallatin, TN, sisters, Lorene Harrell and Linda McAfee of Old Hickory, TN, numerous nieces and nephews, and close friend, Dot Zimmerle. 

In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his wife of 34 years, Shirley Wilson, former wife Theda Mae Wilson; sons Richard “Tommy” Wilson and Jimmy Joe Stammer; siblings Claude Wilson, Shirley Brewer, and Judy Yates. 

Family members will receive friends for visitation on Thursday, March 21st from 4 pm -8 pm and Friday March 22nd from 9 am - 11 am at Lawrence Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted on Friday, March 22, 2024, at 11 am from the Chapel of Lawrence Funeral Home with Isaac Bourne officiating. Burial will follow at Mars Hill Cemetery in Lynnville, TN.

 LAWRENCE FUNERAL HOME and CREMATION SERVICES, Chapel Hill, TN in charge of arrangements, 931-364-2233.