James Reed Wilson

James Reed Wilson April 3, 1913 July 20, 2008 James Reed Wilson, 95, passed away on Sunday, July 20, 2008, in Dallas. A memorial service for him will be held at Austin Avenue United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 25, 2008, with Rev. Chris Mesa and Rev. Tom Robbins co-officiating. The family will receive friends from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 24, 2008, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home in Waco. Jim was born on April 3, 1913, in Madisonville, TX, to James R. Wilson Jr. and Nola B. Wilson. He attended the Demonstration School, Sub-College, and College of Sam Houston State Teachers College now Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX, from 1919 until 1934, when he graduated with a B.S. degree in business administration and education. He married Maydelle Connor in Daingerfield, TX, on October 17, 1938. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. Jim's professional career was in the fields of education and counseling psychology. In 1935, after a year of teaching at Trinity High School in Trinity, TX, he was appointed educational adviser in the Civilian Conservation Corps. He continued in this post until he was called to active duty with the U.S. Army in May 1941. He served as an officer in the Adjutant General's Corps of the U.S. Army throughout World War II. He commanded units in the United States, North Africa, and Europe. He was released from active duty in October 1946. He served in the 4008th U.S. Army Reserve Corps from 1946 until he retired in 1968 with the grade of Colonel. Immediately after leaving active duty in 1946, Jim accepted a position as assistant chief of the Vocational Rehabilitation and Education Division of the Veterans Administration Regional Office in Waco. While in this position, he pursued extensive graduate work in counseling psychology at Baylor University. In a reorganization of the Veterans Administration Regional Office in 1963, he was appointed chief of the Counseling and Training Section; and he held this position until he retired in June 1973. Jim was an active member of Austin Avenue United Methodist Church, where he served in many leadership capacities, including chair of the Administrative Board, chair of the Counsel on Ministries, member of the Finance Committee, member of the Staff-Parish Relations Committee, president of the Friendship Class, and representative at several annual conferences. He was an active member of the Waco Kiwanis Club for many years, where he served on the Board of Directors and was actively involved in many community-service programs. After sixty-four years of marriage, Jim was preceded in death by his beloved wife Maydelle. He is survived by his son, Dr. James R. Wilson, and his son's wife, Mary Elizabeth Wilson, of Cary, NC; his daughter, Katharine Wilson Deem, and her husband James Lee Deem of Dallas; and his grandchildren, Kate Elizabeth Wilson and Anna Christine Wilson of Cary, NC. In addition to his immediate family, many members of his extended family and friends will miss this extraordinary man. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Austin Avenue United Methodist Church, 1300 Austin Avenue, Waco, TX, 76701, or your favorite charity. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey