John Howard Wilson was born January 11, 1946, in Crockett, Texas, to Berta Irene (Evans) Wilson and Shannon Wilson. His parents later moved to Beaumont, where John and his sister Bonnie grew up.
John attended Beaumont schools, graduating from French High School in 1964, and from Lamar State College of Technology (now Lamar University) in 1969. After graduation, he served with the U.S. Army in Germany.
After receiving his honorable discharge in 1971, he returned to Beaumont and went to work for a homebuilding firm founded by his classmate and close friend, Haywood Walker. This job was the first in a long career for John as an estimator and consultant in residential and industrial construction.
In 1969, John married Judy Walker, and they had one son, Shannon. In 1984, he married Judi Read, a union that lasted for the remainder of his life.
John enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing and golf. He loved to tell jokes, and none were funnier to him than his own. He was famous for assigning nicknames; to earn one from him was a sure sign that he liked you. But beneath all the teasing and a sometimes gruff exterior, he was a deeply caring person, a loyal friend and supporter, and always ready to help when needed.
His family and friends meant the world to him. He was a wonderful husband to Judi, father to Shannon, and son to his mother, Irene, to whom he gave devoted care in her final illness. This loving care was richly repaid by his family and friends, who provided generous support for him in his own time of need. John was also sustained by a deep faith in God, which he found in the months and weeks before his death.
Surviving John are his wife, Judith Read-Wilson; son, Shannon Andrew Wilson and wife, Bonnie; grandsons, Zachery Lundy and Dylan Lundy and his wife, Hailey Teel; great-grandson, Wyatt Lundy; sister, Bonnie Sue Wilson; nephew, Chad Edward Chatelain; Judi’s cousins, Karen and Walter Cochran of Port Arthur; former wife and good friend Judy Walker Linsley, and her other sons, Ken and Sam Linsley, who formed a special bond with John, especially after the death of their own father.
John was predeceased by his parents, Berta Irene and Shannon Wilson.
Pallbearers will be Chad Chatelain, Zachery and Dylan Lundy, Ken and Sam Linsley, Stewart Yoes, Bart Owens, and Jason Lynch. Honorary pallbearers are Haywood Walker, Sam Wilson, Tim Broussard, and William Hammond.
A gathering of John’s family and friends will be from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m., Friday, June 16, 2017, at Broussard’s,2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. His funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, June 17, 2017, at Broussard’s, followed by interment at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church, 3810 North Major Drive, Beaumont, Texas 77713 or Humane Society of Southeast Texas, P.O. Box 1629, Beaumont, Texas 77704.
