Jack Clifton Wadsworth Jr.

1949 - 2013

Jack Clifton Wadsworth Jr., 64, made the transition from this life to whatever lies beyond, surrounded by his loving family, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013, after a lengthy illness. Funeral: 3:30 p.m. Monday in Mount Olivet Chapel. Visitation: 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Mount Olivet Funeral Home. Memorials: Jack was afflicted with focal segmental glomurelosclerosis (FSGS), which is a disease of the kidneys that currently has no cure. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in memory of Jack be made to The Nephcure Foundation, www.nephcure.org/give-now, or the American Kidney Fund, www.kidneyfund.org/give-now/gifts-in-memory, so that research may be continued in pursuit of a cure for this disease. Jack was born April 18, 1949, in Fort Worth to Jack and Alice Wadsworth. He had the privilege of growing up with sisters Donna, Robin and Margaret, all three of whom immensely enjoyed sharing the household with their brother. He attended Birdville schools and was a proud member of the graduating class of Haltom High in 1967. Throughout his school career, he was known for providing fellow classmates with hours of entertainment, as well as a challenging work environment for many of his teachers. Jack began working for Producer's Specialty Manufacturing Co. in Fort Worth in 1973 until 1984, during which time his interest in computer programming developed into what would become his career. In 1989, he started working at Marvel Communications, where he would eventually become a partner and vice president, and remain until his illness this year. Jack was a lifelong lover and performer of music, especially 1950s and 1960s rock 'n' roll, as well as blues and the occasional rap tune or two. He was in numerous bands throughout his life, including The Chosen Few, Shades, Alexis, Flipside and On The Way. His most recent band, Tinfoil Fedora, was still performing up until his illness forced him to discontinue participating in live shows earlier this year. He was blessed with an immense musical talent and was able to play any instrument he encountered, never having to read a note of music. He was also an avid baseball fan, attending games at numerous stadiums across the U.S. whenever possible. It is difficult to encapsulate a life such as Jack's, rich with so many varied experiences, friendships, trials and special relationships, in so few words. He was an intelligent, hilarious, caring man who loved his family and friends dearly and he will be sorely missed but fondly remembered. As a distant cousin, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, "Believing in the midst of our afflictions, that death is a beginning, not an end, then only for a season our partings are, nor shall we wait in vain, until we meet again." "Life is unpleasant, death is peaceful; it's the transition that's troublesome." - Isaac Asimov Survivors: Wife of 30 years, Bobbie; children, Amanda, Max and Molly; mother, Alice; sisters, Donna Sultemeier, Robin Sandusky and Margaret Duncan; grandson, Hamish Finlay; and a host of other family member and dear friends.