Born in Newark, Wilson grew up in Kearny, then lived in Elizabeth, Rahway and Westfield before moving to Bristol Glen in Newton in 2001. In August 2019 he moved to Atria of Cranford. He proudly served in the United States Army at the end of WWII and was recalled two years later for the Korean Conflict. Wilson received his BS from the College of New Jersey in 1953 and his Master’s Plus 30 in Education Administration from Rutgers. He was an elementary school principal for the Westfield Board of Education for over 30 years before his retirement in 1988.
A life member of NEA and NJEA, Wilson was also a member of the NJ Elementary Principals Association and the NJ School Masters Association. He served as President of the NJ Council of Education, the Westfield Historical Society, and the Westfield Day Care Center. Wilson served as President of the Kiwanis Club of Westfield and was also a member of the Scotch Plains Kiwanis Club. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Churches in Westfield and Newton.
The son of the late Charles W. Jackson, II and Dorothy Isabel (Rawlings) Jackson, Wilson was also predeceased by his wife, Virginia Ann (Mastenbrook) Jackson, on August 17, 2013, and his sister, Mary Jane (Jackson) Schmidt. He is survived by his children, Dr. Charles W. Jackson, IV and wife, Mary Kay, of Houston, TX, and Mary-Lou Jackson of Scotch Plains; his grandsons, Dr. Charles W. Jackson, V of Hampton, VA and Kenneth B. Jackson of Saint Petersburg, FL; and his, brother Robert R. Jackson and wife, Juliann, of Bronxville, NY, plus three nieces and a nephew.
Arrangements for a celebration of Wilson’s life at FUMC Westfield are pending and will be announced at a later date.
Memorial donations may be made to Bristol Glen Fellowship Fund, 200 Bristol Glen Drive, Newton, NJ 07860.
