CAPT. JAMES A. WILSON, USCG-RET.

CAPT. JAMES A. WILSON, USCG-RET. Beloved husband of 67 years to Elizabeth "Betty" (nee Neale); loving father of Nancy Whitehead (Thomas), Christopher and Mitzi Gitlin (Martin); proud grandfather of Allison Moore (Alexander), Neale Whitehead (Abigail), Alexander Wilson (Lisa) and Andrew Peralta; great grandfather of Theodore, Evelyn, William and Montana; brother of Thomas (Barbara) and the late Marilyn French (Orville); uncle and great uncle of many. Passed away April 5, 2022.

Born in East Liverpool, OH to Gladys Mary (nee Redington) and James O. Wilson, James "Jim" moved to Akron as a boy and graduated from Buchtel High School. He received an appointment to the United States Coast Guard Academy, graduating in 1954. Immediately upon graduation, Jim married his sweetheart Betty and began in his 26-year career as a USCG officer. Jim and Betty lived in Portland, ME, Cleveland, OH, Wilmington, NC, Washington D.C. (three tours of duty at Coast Guard Headquarters), Detroit, MI and returned to Cleveland to finish his career as the Captain of the Port of Cleveland and the head of Merchant Marine Safety on the Great Lakes for the USCG.

The highlight of his career was working on behalf of the Coast Guard to investigate the sinking of the ore carrier Edmund Fitzgerald off the coast of Whitefish Point, Michigan on November 10, 1975. Twenty-nine sailors perished, many from the Detroit and Cleveland areas. Jim was the USCG chief investigator into the accident and along with other Coast Guard experts, helped determine probable causes of the sinking.

The Funeral Service for Jim will be held Friday, April 15, at 11 A.M. in the CHAMBERS FUNERAL HOME of NORTH OLMSTED, 29150 LORAIN RD. AT STEARNS RD. where friends may call THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 5-7 P.M. Interment with honors at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the United States Coast Guard Foundation, 394 Taugwonk Rd., Stonington, CT 06378.