Jack F. Gilson

Jack F. Gilson, 73, of 383 Benson Ave., Meadville, died Wednesday, May 26, 2004 at Meadville Medical Center.

He was born July 28, 1930 in Cambridge Springs, a son of the late Joel F. and Josephine Perkins Gilson.  He married Betty J. Daniels July 22, 1950.

He was a 1949 graduate of Cambridge Springs High School.  He was a U.S. Navy Veteran of the Korean Conflict, serving from 1950 to 1952.  He worked at the Riverside Inn, Cambridge Springs and then for 7 years with the railroad police force for the Erie Railroad.  He worked at Lord Manufacturing and was an emergency medical technician for Meadville Ambulance service.  He also worked for several years as the Cambridge Springs police chief and retired from the Allegheny College security and maintenance departments in 1991, following 7 years of service.  He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police.  He was a former member of the Cambridge Springs Masonic Lodge 473.  He was a former member of the Cambridge Springs Volunteer Fire Department from 1952 to 1974.  He was an accomplished wood carver of ducks, avid hunter for many years, and enjoyed bird watching.

He was a former member of Cambridge Springs United Methodist Church and had attended Stone United Methodist Church.

Survivors, in addition to his wife of 53 years, include a son, Jay Gilson and his wife Cynthia of Cortland, OH; 4 daughters, Margaret Alamadine and her husband Hussein of Arcadia, CA; Genevieve Dunkle and her husband Douglas of Fredericksburg, VA; April Hall and her husband Daniel, Sr. of Meadville; and June Himmelberger of Sebring, FL; a sister, Jane Rose and her husband Harry of Jamestown, NY; a brother, Richard Gilson of Glendale, CA; 11 grandchildren, Meghan and Amina Alamadine, James Meyer, Sara, Jeffrey, Brian, and Jenna Gilson, Daniel Hall, Jr., Katie and Kelsey Mehling, and Christian Dunkle with whom he helped raise; 4 great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Meyer, Jacob Gilson, Alexandra Dunkle, and Dominic Foot; and nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be Saturday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, 581 Chestnut St., Meadville.

A funeral service will be Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Joanna McDermot, Hospice Chaplain officiating.

Burial with Military Honors provided by Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 2006, Meadville will be in Greendale Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Crawford County, 448 Pine St., Meadville, PA 16335.