John ‘J.W.’ Willson, 85, of Chester and formerly of Nederland, died Thursday, July 31, 2008 at Harbor Hospice in Beaumont. A native of Chester, Mr. Willson lived in Nederland from 1946 to 1983 and has resided in Chester for the last 25 years.
Funeral Service will be 2 p.m. Monday, August 4, 2008 at Chester Baptist Church in Chester. Interment will follow in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Chester under the direction of Broussard’s in Nederland. A gathering of family and friends will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, August 3, 2008 at the mortuary in Nederland.
Mr.Willson was a deacon at First Baptist Church in Nederland and Chester Baptist Church. He began a banking career in Nederland in 1946 as one of the first employees helping open Nederland State Bank. After starting as a teller, he continued his career for 37 years retiring as Senior Vice-President. He was a member of the Lions Club of Chester and the Optimist Club in Nederland.
Mr. Willson is survived by his daughters, Barbara Newman and husband Marvin of Orange and Mary Beitel and husband Jay of San Antonio; sons, John T. Willson and wife Beth of Port Neches and Billy Willson and wife Jennifer of Nederland; grandchildren, Amanda Newman, Angela Ewing and husband, B.J., Brittany Newman, Brett Willson, Brandon Willson, Cody Beitel, Clay Beitel, Stephanie Johnson and husband, Aaron and Jared Willson. Mr. Willson is also survived by 2 great grandchildren and a sister, Mary Felton and her husband Charles of Tyler as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Dorothy Willson.
We would like to extend a special thank you to the Doctors and staff of the Neuro ICU at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont and at Promise Hospital in Nederland for the care of our loved one.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Mr. Willson’s memory may be directed to Chester Baptist Church P.O. Box 37 Chester, Texas 75936 or Chester Lions Club P. O. Box 76, Chester, Texas 75936.
