Rev. Dr. James Lyle Wilson, 84 - Vienna WV

(06/17/2011)
Rev. Dr. James Lyle Wilson, 84, of Vienna passed away June 13, 2011, at his residence.

He was born Jan. 11, 1927 in Mt. Zion, W.Va., a son of the late Clyde and Della Hupp Wilson.

He was enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served during WW II. Dr. Wilson received a B.A. from Glenville State College in 1955; his Master of Divinity from the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 1958; and his Doctorate of Ministry from the Methodist Theological School in Delaware, Ohio in 1982.

Dr. Wilson served several churches including the Freemansburg, W.Va. Circuit in 1952; the First United Methodist Church in Koppel, Pa. in 1955; First United Methodist Church in Brackenridge, Pa. in 1958; St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Paden City, W.Va. in 1961; Westmoreland United Methodist Church in Huntington, W.Va. in 1969; the First United Methodist Church in Williamstown, W.Va. in 1972; St Paul's United Methodist Church in Parkersburg, W.Va. in 1980.

He was the District Superintendent for the Wheeling District in 1983, and District Superintendent for the Parkersburg District in 1986. He was Pastor of the Wayside United Methodist Church in Vienna, W.Va. in 1989, and retired in 1992.

Dr. Wilson was a proficient archer and attended several national archery competitions. He was a naturalist and enjoyed hunting. He enjoyed directing church youth camps, was an avid golfer, and enjoyed all sports especially the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins, and W.V.U.

He is survived by his wife, Betty N. Wayne Wilson whom he married in 1947. He is also survived by three children, his son, James L. Wilson Jr. and his wife Linda of Terra Alta, W.Va.; daughter, Valerie Borthwick and her husband John of Snowmass Village, Colo.; and daughter, Jennifer Doyle and her husband Charles of Logan, Ohio; three sisters, Margie Hulen of Lake Wells, Fla., Peggy Knotts of Walker, W.Va., and Martha Wolfe and her husband Richard of Davis, W.Va.; five grandchildren, Jaime Popik and her husband David of Bristow,Va., Janet Wilson of Terra Alta, W.Va., James L. Wilson III of LaJolla,Calif., Katie Borthwick of Littleton, Colo., and Alexa Borthwick of Littleton, Colo.; and great-grandson, Zachary A. Popik of Bristow,Va.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by one brother, Forrest Gale Wilson, and one sister, Lois Reading; brothers-in-law, Robert Hulan and Campbell Knotts, and a stepmother, Elsie Wilson, and an aunt, Georgia Foster.

A memorial service for Dr. Wilson will be held Wednesday, June 22, 2011, 2 p.m. at the Wayside United Methodist Church in Vienna with Bishop William Boyd Grove, The Rev. Dr. Patrick Kerr, and Rev. Kenneth Krimmel officiating.

The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until time of the service at the church on Wednesday.