Jesus Nolasco Wilson

WILSON, JESUS NOLASCO Jesus "Jess" Wilson passed away on May 18, 2005 at Alvarado Hospital. He was born on January 9, 1925 to Juan Wilson and Rosario Nolasco in Manila, Philippine Islands. Jess grew up in Manila as one of three boys and three girls. On May 30, 1945, he joined the U.S. Navy, serving on the NSS San Clemente, USS Hancock and USS Valley Forge. During his naval service, Jess received the WWII Victory Medal, American Theatre Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Theatre Medal, China Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1949, was called back in 1951 to serve in the Korean War, and was again honorably discharged in 1952, although he stayed on in the reserves through March 1954. Jess went to Cal-Aero Technical Institute from September 1949 and graduated with an Engineering degree on July 13, 1951. When Jess joined the Navy, he was stationed in San Diego, California. In August of 1946, he met a beautiful girl, Mercedes Ceasar, at a Chamber of Commerce Mestiza Club dance. On July 14, 1951, the day after Jess graduated from college, he married Mercy at Christ the King Church. The newlyweds honeymooned along the California coast, visiting all the California missions. Jess also loved to travel with his family, visiting Europe, the Philippines, the Caribbean, Costa Rica and Panama. Jess worked at General Dynamics, Convair Division, beginning in 1952 for 15 years. He left Convair to pursue contract work, working on many different airplane platforms. Jess "job shopped" for seven years before joining the U.S. Navy civilian ranks. At the Naval Aviation Depot Corporation (NADC), Jess was the established expert in the field of Structures Engineering and became the first to hold a Senior Aerospace Engineer Specialist position. He designed repairs for a downed Japanese aircraft, designed specialized parts used for repairs in Great Britain, and taught repairs to the Egyptian air force. He designed the camera hold for the movie "Top Gun" and analyzed and designed repairs for downed aircraft in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. Jess was devoted to educating and inspiring junior engineers. He authored the Flight Vehicle Structural Manual which was used as technical reference at the Depot. He also authored and delivered the Flight Vehicle Structural Repair Engineering Analysis and Design class, where he shared his 43 years of experience and knowledge working in the aerospace industry. Jess retired from the Navy on January 3, 1998 as a Senior Structural Engineer, a dedicated man who loved his work. Jess is survived by his wife of 53 years, Mercedes Wilson, daughter Natalie Anderson, sons Jess and Robert, brothers John Wilson and Tony Wilson of the Philippine Islands, and sister Esperanza Barriero of Las Vegas. Rosary and Viewing will be held at Glen Abbey Memorial Park & Mortuary, Bonita, CA on May 22, 2005 at 7 p.m. Mass will be held at St. Anne's Catholic Church, 621 Sicard, San Diego, CA, on May 23, 2005 at 9:30 a.m. The interment will be held at Glen Abbey Cemetery on May 23, 2005. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association. Please sign the guest book at obituaries.uniontrib.com