Joseph Alan Wilson

Joseph Alan Wilson, of Peterborough, New Hampshire, died on September 19, 2020 at the Apple Valley Health Center in Ayer, Massachusetts. He was born on May 17, 1938 in Framingham Massachusetts, to Joseph A. Wilson and Edith (Carter) Wilson. He grew up in Ashland Massachusetts and graduated from Ashland High School in 1956.

Joe completed his undergraduate studies at Northeastern University in Boston and went on to complete his Master’s degree at Antioch/New England, then in Harrisville, now in Keene, NH. Both programs were majors in education. He was a lifelong learner.  He collected 90+ additional college credits just because he wanted to know more about something.

Joe also attended Andover Newton Theological School while he was serving as a youth pastor at his home church in Ashland before he began his educational work.

His career spanned over thirty-seven years as teacher, elementary school administrator, college professor, and supervisor of pre-service, student teachers, and graduate students for the Educational Department of North Adams State College, now Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. He was recognized as a leader of individualized learning at the elementary school level. He spoke at conferences all over the country.

Writing, photography, wilderness camping and canoeing were his hobbies. He loved Algonquin Provincial Park in Canada and made several trips there. One of his unpublished historical novels about the Teddy Roosevelt family during the summer of 1901 has been placed in the Roosevelt Collection housed at the Houghton and Widener Libraries of Harvard University. This was at the request of the curator and some members of the present Roosevelt family. A copy is also found in the library on the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71).

Joe is survived by his wife Luciel, whom he married in 1964. Their “togetherness” actually dates back to 1944 and their meeting in first grade. He is also survived by their two sons, Andrew Douglas Wilson of Peterborough, New Hampshire and Peter Clifford Wilson of Portland, Oregon; his grandchildren, Peter’s daughter, Margaret Luciel Wilson, and Andy’s son, Cameron Joseph Wilson; his brother, Clifford TC Wilson, and wife Paula of Ashland, Massachusetts; his sister, Terri Wilson Hendy and husband William of Sandwich, Massachusetts; and two brothers-in-law, Stanley Kimble of Connecticut and Dr. Carl P. Cepurneek of Australia. He also leaves behind his nieces and cousins. Joe was predeceased by his sister, Reverend Dorothy Wilson Kimble.

Concern for the families and children of his schools and communities was a great part of Joe’s being. Friends and family who wish to honor his life may make a memorial donation to either End 68 Hours of Hunger, c/o SAU#1, 106 Hancock Road, Peterborough NH 03458, or to The Pastor’s Discretionary Fund of the Union Congregational Church, c/o Rev. Dr. Robert Marrone, 33 Concord Street, Peterborough NH 03458.  Please note that your gift is a memorial contribution for Joe Wilson.

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