William Robert (Bob) Wilson
William R. Wilson was born on April 27, 1927 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the son of the late William H. Wilson and Ada Stoll Wilson. He was preceeded in death by his sister, Winifred Wilson Oswalt, and his brother, John. He was also preceeded in death by his loving wife, Ruth Z., in 2001.
William, or Bob, as he was called by those who knew him, graduated from Baltimore Polytechnical Institute in 1945. After a brief stint in the Navy, he graduated from the University of Maryland, with a degree in Electrical Engineering. After scoring high marks in a difficult field of study, he capped his undergraduate career with election into the national engineering honor society, Tau Beta Pi.
In 1949, Bob began his career at the former Inland Steel Company in East Chicago, Indiana. 22 years later, Bob was appointed Vice President of Steel Manufacturing. He then worked his way up to Senior Vice President – Corporate Planning and Engineering. He retired from this post and Inland Steel in 1980. During his career at Inland, Bob bolstered his education and earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration in 1971. Not willing to rest on his laurels, Bob then moved to the Philadelphia area in 1980 and signed on as the President of Lukens Steel in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. He was subsequently named Chairman and Chief Executive of Lukens in 1982. Under his leadership, Lukens achieved the status of a Fortune 500 company. Bob served on the Board of Directors for numerous companies, including Columbia Gas, Provident Mutual Life Ins. Co., Acme Steel and Rosemont College. Bob was also, throughout his career, affiliated with numerous professional organizations.
In his personal life, Bob was a board game and chess enthusiast and a world traveler. He was an active supporter of the churches he belonged to: Gloria Dei Lutheran in Highland, Indiana, and Great Valley Presbyterian in Malvern, Pennsylvania. Bob was also a very generous person, giving to numerous individuals and charities alike.
Bob is survived by his seven children: Robert, Bonnie Hodgdon (the late William), John (Lisa), Charles (Becky) , Bill, Nancy Kopaczewski (Steve) and Jacqueline O’Connor (Tom). He also has 15 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Bob will be sorely missed for his keen intelligence and quick wit.
A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, Jan. 22, at 2:30 PM at the Great Valley Presbyterian Church, 2025 Swedesford Road, Malvern, PA 19355.
Service Information
Date: Thursday, January 22, 2015
Time: 02:30 pm
Great Valley Presbyterian Church
2025 Swedesford Rd.
Malvern, PA 19355
