John William Wilson Sr.

John William Wilson, a 64-year resident of the South Bay passed away on Tuesday October 9th, 2018. Born in Perry, Iowa. John was 86 when he died. He was a member of St. Catherine Laboure Catholic Church in Torrance for 57 years. He graduated high school at Sheldon High in Iowa. John served in the U.S. Army from 1952-1955. He had served as a radioman stationed in Alaska. He was married 59 years to Mary Ann Fischer. John attended Northrop University to receive a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Business Management. He worked at many aerospace companies (Lockheed, Hughes, North American Aviation) before retiring at Rockwell Space Division in Downey as a manager and design engineer for the space shuttle program in 1989. John was very active in the Boy Scouts with continued support for Troop 785. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, South Bay Amateur Radio Club and the Torrance Amateur Radio Association (TARA). John loved to travel, his weekly bible study group, the church Senior Citizen group; woodworking, making models, garden model railways, coin collecting, needlework, operating the ham radio and attending his grandchildren's sport and school events.

John is survived by his daughters Kathy (Mike Brinda) and Donna Wilson; sons John Jr. (Myra) and Jim (Cynthia) and his sister Joyce Chudnofsky; step-sister Helen Wells; aunt Elaine Dalton; five grandchildren Mark, Erika, David, Matthew and Emily; great granddaughters Mia, Dakota and Sheaden; great grandsons Luke and a great grandchild due in December.