Ralph Erdman Wilson Jr.

Ralph Erdman Wilson, Jr., passed away on Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at St. Vincent’s. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 17, 1927 and he attended public schools in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, graduating from high school in 1945. After serving a term in the US Army, he moved with his family to Jacksonville. He went to the University of Florida where he became a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He was active in Florida Players and student government. He was inducted in Florida Blue Key and Florida “Hall of Fame”. He graduated in January 1953 with a degree in Business Administration and returned to Jacksonville where he was employed by Hall & Fisher, CPA’s. n October of that year he was invited to be the Master of Ceremonies at the 1953 U.F. homecoming “Gator Growl”, an honor he later in years claimed was his “fifteen minutes of fame”. From 1950 to 1954 he served in the U.S. Naval Reserve and for a number of years he was active in Theatre Jacksonville, where he won several acting awards. In 1961 he joined the firm of Pierce, Wulbern, Murphey, members of the New York Stock Exchange, where he served as the CFO. In August of 1975 he started his “one man” Certified Public Accounting firm where he took care of his clients accounting and tax matters until his retirement in July 2013. He was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church where he served as treasurer for First Presbyterian and St. Johns Presbyterian for more than 30 years.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Linda Cleveland Wilson; son, Lee Erdman Wilson (Susan); daughter, Elizabeth Wilson Wilson (Scott) and grandchildren, Sarah, Rebekah, Michael and Lauren.

Interment will be in Oaklawn Cemetery, 4801 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, Florida. A memorial service will be held at eleven o’clock in the morning on Monday, February 2, 2015 at St. Johns Presbyterian Church, 4275 Herschel St, Jacksonville, Florida 32210 with a reception to follow. The family requests that memorials be sent to St. Johns Presbyterian, Community Hospice of Northeast Florida or a charity of your choice.

Arrangements are under the care of Hardage-Giddens ~ The Oaklawn Chapel, 4801 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, Florida 32207. www.dignitymemorial.com