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- John Robert WilsonRetired teacher, coach; veteran
Oak Ridger, The (TN) - April 25, 2000Browse Issues
John Robert Wilson, 57, of Oak Ridge, died Monday, April 24, 2000, at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge.
Mr. Wilson was born in Pulaski, N.Y., on Dec. 15, 1942, the son of John Dodge and Emma Grier Wilson, both deceased.
He was a U.S. Navy veteran and retired in 1982 as a lieutenant after 20 years of service. He was awarded a Good Conduct Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Service Medal, the Vietnam Special Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.
His tours of duty included Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Chapel Hill, N.C., Pensacola, Fla., Corpus Christi, Texas, San Jose, Calif., Iwakuni, Japan, Adak, Alaska, Millington, Tenn., Midway Island and Misawa, Japan.
Mr. Wilson received a bachelor of science degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master of science degree in education from the University of Tennessee.
Mr. Wilson taught physics and science at Bearden High School for 13 years, retiring in 1998. He developed the varsity soccer programs at Bearden from their beginnings, serving as varsity soccer coach for both boys and girls teams for 12 years. He led the girls' team to fourth in the state championship tournament for AAA large schools in 1997. He was a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
He was girls' chairman for the Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association and co-founder of the Georgia-Tennessee All Star Series for girls from 1992 to 1997.
Mr. Wilson was recognized by the Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association for achievement of highest standards of prep coaching performance as Girls Soccer Regional Coach of the Year in 1996. He was District Four AAA and Region II AAA Coach of the Year in 1997.
The Region II soccer organization presented him with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997 in recognition of his efforts and dedication to establish soccer as a high school varsity sport in Knox County and throughout the state.
On his retirement from coaching in 1997, the Tennessee Valley Soccer Referees' Association recognized him for his contributions to the development of high school soccer.
Mr. Wilson enjoyed photographing nature, especially at the UT Arboretum, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and on Midway Island. He also enjoyed amateur sports car racing in the 1970s with the Sports Car Club of America.
He was involved for many years in youth soccer as a volunteer coach and administrator. Mr. Wilson was American Youth Soccer Association Region 390 commissioner and head coach for four seasons during 1986 and 1987. He dedicated many of his efforts during this time to bring attention to the need for quality fields for youth soccer in Oak Ridge.
Mr. Wilson is survived by his wife, Karen Toucey Wilson; two sons, Scott Wilson and Brian Wilson, both of McLean, Va.; two brothers, Jim Wilson and his wife, Cindy, of Richland, N.Y., and David Wilson and his wife, Carol, of Altmar, N.Y.; and two sisters, Nancy Wilson of Liverpool, N.Y., and Sue Wilson of Syracuse, N.Y.
He is also survived by three nieces, Alyson Wilson of Ithaca, N.Y., and Ashleigh Wilson and Bethany Wilson, both of Richland; six nephews, Bruce Wilson of Richland, Jason Wilson of Rochester, N.Y., Dustin Wilson of Raleigh, N.C., Eddie Wilson, Jeff Wilson and Tom Wilson; and by several grandnieces and grandnephews.
A brother, William Wilson, and a nephew, Doug Wilson, died earlier.
The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 27, at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, 1500 Oak Ridge Turnpike. The Rev. David Nash Williams will officiate.
Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Memorial Park.
The family requests that any memorials be in the form of donations to the American Cancer Society, Anderson County Unit, c/o Lee Costanzo, 103 Case Lane, Oak Ridge, TN 37830.
The family will receive friends from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 26, at Weatherford Mortuary.
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1942 - 2000 (57 years)
d. 18 Apr 1988 (Age 70 years)