Joseph F. Wilson JENSEN BEACH, FL - Joseph F. Wilson, 94, of Nettles Island, Jensen Beach, FL passed away on Saturday, October 22nd in San Jose, CA surrounded by his family. Joe was born on November 9th, 1921 to Sarah and Clarence Wilson in Albany, NY. He graduated from Saratoga Springs High School and started his career at New York Telephone Co. in 1941. He served in
WWII in the Army Air Corps, 435th Signal Construction Battalion in Europe and North Africa for 3 years as a Staff Sgt. After the war, he resumed his career with New York Telephone Co. in Saratoga Springs and Albany, New York. In 1946 he met and married his wife of 68 years, Mary Elizabeth (Bettie) Gibney in Saratoga Springs, NY, where they raised their family. Joe had many talents and interests. Woodworking was one of them, as he enjoyed many years working in his basement making fine furniture pieces for their home and as gifts for family. Joe and Bettie also enjoyed traveling the country in their travel trailer. They had many adventures on the open road, including their dream trip across the country during which they visited most of the states and many of the national parks. Joe retired in 1982 after 41 years of service. He and Bettie then moved to Nettles Island in Jensen Beach, FL where they enjoyed their time with each other, playing tennis, entertaining, participating in local clubs and activities and socializing with their many friends. Joe’s reputation as someone who could install or fix anything became well known and he became the go-to person for advice on anything that needed repair in their community. Joe and Bettie continued their enthusiasm for traveling during retirement with trips to Europe, Central America, Mexico, Hawaii and the Bahamas. Joe was an avid reader, as he enjoyed many hours relaxing while reading dozens of books on his Kindle. He spent the last two months of his life with his family in San Jose, CA enjoying time with his grandchildren, reading, and watching his favorite baseball team, the Miami Marlins, on TV. Joe was predeceased by his wife, Bettie, in 2015. He is survived by his daughters, Deborah Regan (William) and Janice Allan (James), both of Naples, FL, and his son, Joseph Jr. (Kathleen), his granddaughter, Jennifer Sanchez-Valencia, and his grandsons, Michael and Christopher Wilson, all of San Jose, CA. A memorial service to celebrate Joe’s life will be held in Nettles Island at a date yet to be determined.
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