David Thomas Wilson, husband, father, grandfather, Methodist minister, and prison chaplain, passed away peacefully with family by his side in Hamilton, New Jersey, on Friday, April 26, 2024. He died from complications of pneumonia after a brief stay in hospice. He was 87.

David was born on January 4, 1937, to Amith and Mildred (Ritchey) Wilson. He grew up on a farm in the rolling countryside of Elizabethtown, Indiana, with his older brother Farrel and many aunts, uncles, and cousins nearby. As a high school senior, he felt God's call to ministry. He attnded Asbury College in Wilmore KY where he met his future wife, Jane Forrester, at a rally for a Student Council candidate. The two were wed in Trenton NJ on October 12, 1958, and remained happily married for 65 years until his death.

David completed his Bachelor of Science in Education at Temple University in Philadelphia PA in 1960, taking his final exams the same week that his first child was born. In 1964 he earned a Divinity degree at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in St. Davids PA. (It is now called Palmer Theological Seminary, and the Bachelor's coursework that David completed is now considered a Master's Degree.) That same year, he was ordained an Elder in the Southern New Jersey Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. He earned a Master of Sacred Theology in Parish Ministry at New York Theological Seminary in New York City in 1972. For the next year, in addition to pastoring a church, he held an Adjunct Faculty position at New York Theological Seminary, and was responsible for curriculum development and group leadership for Master's level courses at the Army Chaplain's School in Fort Hamilton NY. He then continued at New York Theological Seminary working on his Doctor of Ministries ABD (all but dissertation).

From 1958 until 1985, David pastored United Methodist churches in southern New Jersey in the Jacobstown and Bridgeport areas, Roebling, Hurffville, West Belmar, Delanco, and the Allentown area. In 1985 he received a special appointment to serve as Prison Chaplain at Southern State Correctional Facility in Delmont NJ, with a promotion to Supervisor of Chaplaincy Services in 1988. During his chaplaincy, David and Jane purchased the first and only home they ever owned, which was a great joy to both of them. Jane designed and David built a sunroom addition, and they enjoyed gardening, landscaping, and doing home improvement projects together. In 1999 David left the chaplaincy and completed his career by pastoring churches in Lambertville and Lynvale NJ, which allowed him to be closer to family as he approached retirement.

After retiring in 2002, David continued to serve as a substitute pastor for several local churches, as well as mentoring younger pastors. With more time on his hands, David became a prolific reader, especially on topics of theology and philosophy. As a result, his personal faith and beliefs continued to evolve. He also worked part-time in his son Kent's construction business for several years and was an attentive grandfather to his nine grandchildren.

In recent years, David worked closely with a friend who was translating a Russian theological text into English, which is currently working its way toward publication. With Jane, he created an amazing legacy to their grandchildren called an Ethical Will, which describes their faith journeys and philosophy of life and offers guidance on living life with purpose. In addition, he was devoted to supporting Jane as she struggled with dementia. His commitment to family, friends, and intellectual and spiritual growth never wavered.

David was a warm and genuine person, gracious and respectful to everyone he met, with a healthy dose of humor mixed in. He especially delighted in and was loved by his grandchildren, of whom he was supportive, patient, and encouraging. He was non-judgemental and open-minded, and loved engaging with his grandchildren and other family and friends on any and all topics, especially subjects that allowed young people to teach him. He tried to always act with love and compassion and saw the best in people. He lived a principled and purposeful life.

David loved to be outdoors doing gardening, landscaping projects, and for a time beekeeping. He loved flowers and nature and enjoyed touring gardens and historic sites with Jane. He enjoyed puzzles, jokes, and puns, and also wrote poetry throughout his adult life. David was a Jack-of-all-trades, and working on projects with and for his family was a favorite pastime. While his children were growing up and for many years after, the family went tent camping with close friends at Lake George NY every summer, in addition to annual visits to David's family in Elizabethtown IN. As his grandchildren grew up and moved away, he sponsored several family reunion weekends at the Jersey Shore, creating special memories for his extended family.

David is survived by his wife Jane Lavinia Wilson (nee Forrester), his daughter Kerry Wilson, son Kent Wilson and his wife Pamela, and son Joel Wilson and his wife Melanie Hirst; and by his nine grandchildren: Lydia Laub, Cora Laub, Kelly Wilson, Keegan Wilson, Jimmy Wilson, Garrett Drab and his wife Grace, Emily Wilson and her husband Chris Laird, Olivia Wilson and her husband Alex DePue, and Claudia Wilson. He is predeceased by his brother Farrel Wilson.

David touched the lives and hearts of countless people. The focus of his life was service to God and relationships with people, and he saw the Spirit of God in everyone he met. His family was his greatest pride and joy. He viewed himself as a fixer of people and things, as a lover of all people and the natural world, and as a seeker of truth. His career as a pastor and chaplain provided countless opportunities to serve others. In retirement, he continued to serve his family, friends, and neighbors. During the last two and a half years of his life, he was dearly loved and respected by both the staff and the other residents of the assisted living facility in which he lived. David will be deeply missed by many, many people.

A Celebration of Life is planned for Saturday, September 28, 2024, at Princeton United Methodist Church, 7 Vandeventer Ave., Princeton, NJ 08542. Starting at 10:30am with service at 11:00 and lunch to follow. In lieu of flowers the family has requested that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to Heifer International ( www.heifer.org or 1-855-948-6437) or The Nature Conservancy ( www.preserve.nature.org or 1-800-628-6860).

Only be careful and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

Deuteronomy 4:9

If you are unable to be at the services and would like to view them online, click the link before for the Livestream.

https://vimeo.com/live/rtmp/event/4582963#player