John S. Wilson

John Sims Wilson, lovingly known to all as “Jack”, passed away peacefully in his sleep Sunday, October 30, 2022. He was 79 years young. Jack was born August 5, 1943, in Palo Alto, Ca. He was a graduate of Escalon high school in 1961. Jack was a US Navy Seabee, serving two tours in the Vietnam war. Every time he was thanked for his service, he would boldly say, “If I could, I would do it all again!” He loved his country and was a proud American! He worked in the almond industry for 37 years, starting as a foreman at Minturn Huller in Chowchilla, Ca. Then, moving to Delano, Ca. in 1977, he became the foreman at Central Valley Almond Association in McFarland, Ca., retiring as the superintendent in 2006. Jack was literally a “jack of all trades”! If you gave him a wrench, a screwdriver and a hammer, he could pretty much build it, or fix it. He loved working on cars in his younger years. He loved golf and going to the occasional drag meet. But hands down, his greatest outdoor enjoyment, was trapshooting! Jack was a lifelong trap shooter. Proudly earning the title “1 oz. Jack”! (You’ll have to ask a local trap shooter what that means.) He was legendary in the San Joaquin valley for his trap shooting skills. His loud, boisterous laugh will be missed by all. Jack was preceded in death by his parents Harry Wayne Wilson and Mildred Marie (Edsall) Wilson; sister, Peggy Marie (Wilson) Laam; brother-in laws, Fred Laam and Bob Cavalli; sister-in-law, Terri Strehle-Wilson and his son-in-law, who he loved like a son, Robert Matthew Espinoza. He is survived by his greatest love and wife of 55 years, Charlene Gail Wilson; daughter, Karry Ann Espinoza; granddaughters, Daria Lauren and Katelyn Elyse Espinoza; his honorary daughter, Lisa Marroquin; sister, Margi Cavalli; brother, Pete Wilson (Debi); brother, Jeff Wilson; 2 brothers-in-law, Ronald and Steven Greene; 2 sisters-in-law, Gloria Shafer and Debra Greene and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and longtime friends. The Interment ceremony will be held at the Bakersfield National Cemetery, 30338 East Bear Mountain Blvd., Arvin, Ca on Friday, December 9, 2022, at 10:00 AM. There will be a Celebration of Life reception after the ceremony from 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM at Hodel’s Country Dining, 5917 Knudsen Dr., Bakersfield. The family would like to express our gratitude for the wonderful help and care provided by Kern River Transitional Care and Hoffman Hospice and the tremendous love and support given to us by our loving Apostolic Gospel Church of Delano family!