Ted S. Wilson

Ted Smith Wilson, 82, of Worthington, Ohio died peacefully on Friday, September 28,2012. Born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania on December 29,1929 and raised by his maternal grandparents John and Bertha Wilson. He was preceded in death by his mother, Isabel and sister, Marcedith. Survived by daughters Lisa (Louis I. Fomby) of Worthington and Sara (TK Jensen) of Austin,Texas,grandchildren Louis Fomby of Worthington, Jasmine and Bailey Wilson of Austin, Texas, numerous cousins, nephews and niece in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Louisiana, Indiana, Maine, Maryland and California. Following graduation from Chambersburg High School, Ted enlisted in the US Army in 1947. He was a member of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion (Triple Nicklels), the first all black parachute company, and later a member of the elite 82nd Airborne Division. Ted graduated from Kentucky State University in 1954, where he played football and was a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. He attended the University of Michigan Graduate School. In 1996, Ted retired from Columbus Area Community Mental Health Center after 22 years as a Psychiatric Social Worker. He started his civilian career with the YMCA, in Wilkesboro, PA, as a Director and spent time in New York in the Town, Country and Community Division of the YMCA. In 1958, he married LaVerne Hightower of Binghamton, New York. In 1960, Ted moved to Lima, Ohio accepting the position as Executive Director of Bradfield Center until 1963, when he began a his career in social work. Over the years, he worked at Lima Comprehensive Mental Health Center and St Rita Hospital, in Lima, Clark County Mental Health Center in Springfield, Ohio, Grant Hospital in Columbus, and Harding Hospital in Worthington. Throughout his life he enjoyed sports, both watching and participating, and he freely volunteered his time and talents to his church, the American Red Cross, Big Brothers and Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, Lima City Planning Commission and Lima Area United Fund. Ted was a member of Fairmoor Presbyterian Church in Columbus. In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to one of these organizations.

Ted S. Wilson

September 28, 2012