George Douglas Wilson, Sr.

On the afternoon of Wednesday, July 10, 2024, George Douglas Wilson Sr. went peacefully to be with the Lord at the Pavilion for Healthcare in Penney Farms, FL. He was 94 years old. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. James C. Wilson and Dorothy Myer Wilson, and by his older brother, James C. Wilson, Jr. He leaves behind his children, George Douglas Wilson, Jr. of Casselberry, FL, and Janet C. Jayne and her husband Dr. John Lawrence Jayne of Bristol, VA; grandchildren Chelsea A. Wilson of Longmont, CO and Brent E. Wilson of Daytona Beach, FL; and many loving friends and caregivers.

George was born in New York, NY and grew up in Tuckahoe, NY. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Engineering from Columbia University. As an undergraduate, George swam competitively on the university swim team and served as president of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. He was also an avid runner for most of his adult life, even in the hot Florida summers! 

George served in the United States Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Reserves, where he earned the rank of Lieutenant. He was an Aerospace Engineer with Martin-Marietta Corporation for thirty years. He held a patent for a guided missile system that he helped design, and he also helped write a computer language that was used by NASA. His team was in charge of the Sprint rocket program that launched early satellites into space in the 1970s. 

While still at Martin-Marietta, he founded Missionary Computer Fellowship (MCF) after visiting a cousin with HCJB in Ecuador and observing need for software computer program for bookkeeping and inventory of the print shop. George convinced Martin-Marietta (now Lockhead Martin) to donate their unused personal computer hardware to the cause. Taking computers into global mission fields was a great way for him to travel, and he would sometimes say that it was how he enabled his “travel bug.” The work of this organization was certainly one of his most cherished accomplishments. It led him to seek out opportunities to share the word of God overseas, serving as a pastor in Poland, Russia, and Sweden. 

George has been a resident of Penney Retirement Community since 2013. He was a beloved friend to many and a delight to his caregivers at the Pavilion. 

A Celebration of Life service will take place on Monday, July 15, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at the Penney Memorial Church, Poling Blvd., Penney Farms, FL. Friends are encouraged to make contributions to the charity of one’s choice in George’s memory.