December 16, 2021
December 16, 2021
Robert McLaughlin Wilson II
March 1, 1943 – November 28, 2021
Bob was born in Columbus, Ohio, then lived in Franklin until he was four, but as far as he was concerned, he lived in Middletown all his life. He was active in a host of activities growing up: Acolyte, Episcopal Youth Fellowship, Boy Scouts, DeMolay, Cotillion, and, of course, cruising the Frisch’s and County Kitchen on South Main Street after the Middie football and basketball games.
He attended Ohio University for two years, then joined the United States Army. He served 18 months in Viet Nam, then four years in Frankfurt, Germany in the Army Intelligence Agency, a real dichotomy since he was known in the family for not being able to keep a secret. He attained the rank of Lieutenant and was a Purple Heart recipient.
When he returned to Middletown he got a job at Armco and married Barbara Ann Brecht. They had two children: Margaret Louise Wilson-Grubbs (Meg) and Robert McLaughlin Wilson III (Rob). Bob and Barbara divorced in the mid-eighties, and she preceded him in death in 2016. He married Monica Lu Wilson in 1988. They are the parents of John Christian Frederick Wilson and James Andrew Warren Wilson.
Bob attended night school at Xavier University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences. He majored in Business Administration and Religion and minored in Philosophy and Biology. He was a voracious reader, particularly of American and English history. He often said he was a trove of “interesting but useless facts”, a trait he passed down to his children.
Bob was very active in the community. He was a member of the Jaycees, where he chaired the Jaycee Airshow and W. W. Sebald Self Reliance Awards. He was a Junior Achievement advisor, Past Master of Jefferson Lodge #90, and a 32 degree Mason. When he retired from AK Steel (formerly Armco) he started volunteering at the Middletown Regional Hospital dispatching Meals on Wheels. When Atrium Medical Center opened, he worked in Patient Services then in the Volunteer Office. He served the Atrium Auxiliary as an officer and communications chair.
Bob loved the Episcopal Church, especially his lifelong parish, the Church of the Ascension in Middletown, Ohio. He was an acolyte, lay reader/Lay Eucharistic Minister, lector, worship coordinator/worship leader, verger, altar guild chair, Sunday school teacher and superintendent, and food pantry volunteer. He spent a lot of Saturday mornings doing odd jobs or fixing things at the church: anything from rewiring a light fixture to installing sprinkler heads to maintenance of the motors in the bell tower.
Bob knew “everybody” in town, and a trip to the grocery or hardware store resulted in several lengthy conversations with old friends and coworkers. He had a wicked, quick, and sometimes sarcastic wit and could make you laugh with a well-timed quip. He was also completely unable to tell a joke. He was an eloquent writer and crack speller. His major reason for allowing a smart phone in his life was being able to play Words with Friends away from his computer. He loved music: mostly classical, especially Beethoven, the Baroque Era and anything bagpipes, but wasn’t averse to a little Willie Nelson or big band standards.
He was preceded in death by his parents Robert McLaughlin, MD and Ruth Eleanor Prine Wilson, and his sister Prudence Anne Wilson Miller. In addition to his wife and four children he leaves four grandchildren (Ryder McLaughlin Wilson, River McKennon Wilson, Charles Frederick McLaughlin Wilson and Charlotte Ann Louise Wilson), long time best friend John J. Renick and a host of other friends.
Memorial donations may be made to:
The Church of the Ascension
c/o Lisa Follmer
6180 Green Meadow
Mason, Ohio 45050
Atrium Auxiliary
Attn: Volunteer Services
One Medical Center Drive
Middletown, Ohio 45005
March 1, 1943 – November 28, 2021
Bob was born in Columbus, Ohio, then lived in Franklin until he was four, but as far as he was concerned, he lived in Middletown all his life. He was active in a host of activities growing up: Acolyte, Episcopal Youth Fellowship, Boy Scouts, DeMolay, Cotillion, and, of course, cruising the Frisch’s and County Kitchen on South Main Street after the Middie football and basketball games.
He attended Ohio University for two years, then joined the United States Army. He served 18 months in Viet Nam, then four years in Frankfurt, Germany in the Army Intelligence Agency, a real dichotomy since he was known in the family for not being able to keep a secret. He attained the rank of Lieutenant and was a Purple Heart recipient.
When he returned to Middletown he got a job at Armco and married Barbara Ann Brecht. They had two children: Margaret Louise Wilson-Grubbs (Meg) and Robert McLaughlin Wilson III (Rob). Bob and Barbara divorced in the mid-eighties, and she preceded him in death in 2016. He married Monica Lu Wilson in 1988. They are the parents of John Christian Frederick Wilson and James Andrew Warren Wilson.
Bob attended night school at Xavier University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences. He majored in Business Administration and Religion and minored in Philosophy and Biology. He was a voracious reader, particularly of American and English history. He often said he was a trove of “interesting but useless facts”, a trait he passed down to his children.
Bob was very active in the community. He was a member of the Jaycees, where he chaired the Jaycee Airshow and W. W. Sebald Self Reliance Awards. He was a Junior Achievement advisor, Past Master of Jefferson Lodge #90, and a 32 degree Mason. When he retired from AK Steel (formerly Armco) he started volunteering at the Middletown Regional Hospital dispatching Meals on Wheels. When Atrium Medical Center opened, he worked in Patient Services then in the Volunteer Office. He served the Atrium Auxiliary as an officer and communications chair.
Bob loved the Episcopal Church, especially his lifelong parish, the Church of the Ascension in Middletown, Ohio. He was an acolyte, lay reader/Lay Eucharistic Minister, lector, worship coordinator/worship leader, verger, altar guild chair, Sunday school teacher and superintendent, and food pantry volunteer. He spent a lot of Saturday mornings doing odd jobs or fixing things at the church: anything from rewiring a light fixture to installing sprinkler heads to maintenance of the motors in the bell tower.
Bob knew “everybody” in town, and a trip to the grocery or hardware store resulted in several lengthy conversations with old friends and coworkers. He had a wicked, quick, and sometimes sarcastic wit and could make you laugh with a well-timed quip. He was also completely unable to tell a joke. He was an eloquent writer and crack speller. His major reason for allowing a smart phone in his life was being able to play Words with Friends away from his computer. He loved music: mostly classical, especially Beethoven, the Baroque Era and anything bagpipes, but wasn’t averse to a little Willie Nelson or big band standards.
He was preceded in death by his parents Robert McLaughlin, MD and Ruth Eleanor Prine Wilson, and his sister Prudence Anne Wilson Miller. In addition to his wife and four children he leaves four grandchildren (Ryder McLaughlin Wilson, River McKennon Wilson, Charles Frederick McLaughlin Wilson and Charlotte Ann Louise Wilson), long time best friend John J. Renick and a host of other friends.
Memorial donations may be made to:
The Church of the Ascension
c/o Lisa Follmer
6180 Green Meadow
Mason, Ohio 45050
Atrium Auxiliary
Attn: Volunteer Services
One Medical Center Drive
Middletown, Ohio 45005
