Kenneth J. Wilson Sr. 1931-2024

Ken was born in 1931, in Boardman, Ohio, to the late Nels Jacob Vilgotson Wilson and Melvina Carlson Wilson. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his first wife, Mary Jane “Mimi” Paulino Wilson; sisters, Dorothy Loveland and Gloria Snyder; and brother, Edward Carlson.

The son of Swedish immigrants, he was proud of his heritage. Ken graduated from Boardman High School in 1949. He attended Denison University and graduated from Kent State University in 1953, where he was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity. He served as a medic in the U.S. Army at Fort Monroe, Virginia. He was a born salesman and had a distinguished career as a regional sales manager for the Standard Register Company, until he retired after 37 years.

Ken and Mimi, who were married Dec. 31, 1953, raised their three children, Sallie, Ken Jr. and Jon in Boardman, before moving to Wallace, North Carolina after retirement. He always considered Boardman home.

Ken grew up during the Great Depression and lost his mother at a young age. Shaped and influenced by his church, his school, the library and the YMCA, he made it his life’s mission to give back to the community that had given him so much. He lived by the motto “Volunteerism is the rent we pay for the space we occupy on God’s earth.”

Ken was a visionary. His leadership and fundraising skills helped raise millions of dollars for nonprofit organizations, including the Poland Library, the Boardman YMCA, the Boardman High School Sports Complex and YMCA Camp Fitch on Lake Erie. Devoted to his alma mater, Boardman High School, Ken served as president of the Boardman Booster Club. Along with his friend, George Economus, he announced Boardman High School football games for 19 years and was inducted into the Boardman Booster Club Hall of Fame. Ken loved the YMCA and served on the Board of Trustees for 25 years, three as president. He served as chairman on the YMCA Camp Fitch Board of Trustees for many years. Ken was a proud Rotarian for over 65 years, both in Boardman and Wallace, North Carolina. He was a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow. He was Chairman of the Boardman Zoning Board of Appeals and on the Forum Hospital / Beeghly Oaks Health Board of Directors. He served as president of the Boardman Civic Association, the Mahoning County Library Board and Four Square Club.

He was a lifelong member of St. James Episcopal Church and served on the Vestry as Senior Warden. He was instrumental in the building of the new St. James Church. In Wallace, North Carolina, he was a board member for the Thelma Dingus Bryant Library, the Salvation Army, the Wallace Revitalization Association and the Architectural Review Board in River Landing, where he lived.

Ken’s biggest passion in life was his family. He and Mimi celebrated 50 years of marriage. Ken loved to attend his children’s activities and watch his grandchildren grow up. He loved taking his family to annual vacations at Camp Fitch Family Camp, Siesta Key, Florida and Fripp Island, South Carolina. Several years after Mimi’s death, Ken returned to Ohio and in a friend’s skybox at a Youngstown State football game, he met Joan Ellen Tims of Boardman. He invited her to dinner and this year on April 13, they celebrated their 13th wedding anniversary in Hilton Head. “Papa” Ken was the adored patriarch of an expanding family.

He is survived by his wife, Joan Tims Wilson, and his three children, Sallie Burns (Bo), Kenneth J. Wilson Jr. (Donna) and Jon J. Wilson (Kelli). He is also survived by his six grandchildren, Bo Thomas Burns (Claudia), Cami Yelverton (Preston), Kenneth Jacob Wilson III, Julian Wilson (fiancee, Christy Lewis), Allie Wilson and Davis Wilson. In what was a highlight of Ken’s full life, he held his first great-grandson, Jones Michael Yelverton, in April to start a new Wilson generation.

Given his widespread community involvement, countless individuals and organizations have been touched by his hard work, devotion and selfless contributions. He was a dedicated husband, father, community servant and took an interest in everyone he met with his warm smile and caring nature. He was a friend to all and a stranger to none.

Those who want to remember Ken are encouraged to donate to YMCA Camp Fitch online or at 12600 Abels Road, North Springfield, PA 16430; or to the Thelma Dingus Bryant Library, 409 W. Main St., Wallace, NC 28466.

A celebration of life will take place at 1 p.m. June 1, 2024, at the Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home in Wallace, North Carolina. A date will be announced for a celebration of life service in Boardman.

“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; love leaves a memory no one can steal.” — (Borrowed from an Irish headstone.)

Arrangements were by Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home of Wallace, North Carolina, www.quinnmcgowen.com.

(special notice)