John David Wilson

John David Wilson passed away peacefully in Northern Virginia on October 21, 2025.

John had recently celebrated his 90th birthday with his family around him and he even sang to a few songs on the piano.

John was born in Canton, Ohio on August 17, 1935. He attended the Columbus (Ohio) Boy Choir School and then graduated from Canton Lincoln High School in Ohio. He attended the College of Wooster in Ohio, where he met his wife, Elzia (Louise) Morgan. After graduating, the couple moved to Chicago where John earned an MBA from the University of Chicago.

John spent more than 3 decades working as an executive with Chrysler Corp. in Detroit, MI. He and Louise raised 3 children and lived in Fraser, MI until John’s retirement in 1995. While in Fraser, John dedicated several years to conducting the Christ United Methodist Youth Chorus, leading the church’s Methodist Youth Fellowship along with Louise. He was music director of the Spokesmen — the church’s teen choir, which spent summer weekends cycling to Michigan churches and singing concerts.

In retirement, John & Louise moved to Garrett County, MD where they had an active retirement with John participating in local theater productions and choirs and both John and Louise heavily involved in church activities. John was a lifelong Ohio State Buckeyes football fan. He was dedicated to his family and grandchildren and their sporting events and musical endeavors and he and Louise attended as many of those as they could. John’s generosity and wise counsel was appreciated by his entire family, as was his sense of fun and good humor.

After Louise’s death in 2019, John moved to Northern Virginia to be closer to family.

He is survived by his children: Robin Wilson, Susan (Wilson) Filer (spouse Robert Filer), and John M. Wilson (spouse Kathie Wilson), grandchildren Lex Ozias, Coy Ozias, Campbell (Filer) Ketler (spouse Traviss Ketler), Jack Filer, Rebecca Wilson, and Ryan Wilson. And by his great grandchild Theodore Ketler.

John also is survived by his sister Jeanne Kieffer (spouse Paul Kieffer), and his nephew Brian Kieffer and niece Karla (Kieffer) Law.

His family will miss him greatly and cherishes its memories of him and his love for them.

John’s funeral will be held Saturday, November 1 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church of Oakland, MD.