October 14, 1935 – October 27, 2021
James “Big Jim” Thomas Wilson, Sr., 86, of Bedford, passed away Wednesday, October 27, 2021, at Richard L.
Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis.
He was born in Millwood, Kentucky, to Edward Christopher and Edie Jane (Decker) Wilson. Jim was a veteran of the U.S. Army where he served for six years and was a life-long mechanic. He retired from the City of Bloomington where he was the working foreman and sexton. He enjoyed playing guitar, fishing, reading, and spending time with his family. “Big Jim” towered over many, but he was big in a different way. He was “the type of man that his grandsons aspire to be. He was genuine…just himself. Flawed, stubborn, grumpy, and mischievous. But also loving, gentle, and proud.”
Survivors include his six daughters: Barbara June (David) Rosario, Mary Jane Wilson, Tamara (Brad Sr.) Burgess, Kelly Wilson, Jennifer Wilson and Anne (Phillip) Thorpe; daughter-in-law, Cathy Wilson; 23 grandchildren: Brian Don Brinegar, Brandon Brinegar, Brittany Lesley, Jerry Rosario, Felicia McManus, Migdalia Rosario, Jeremy Wilson, Devon Rosario, Erin Stacy, Bradley Burgess Jr., Maria Hillenburg, Zachary Burgess, Jessica Fields, Kimberly Burgess, Creighton Burgess, Shane Chandler, Sarah Freeman, Christopher Wilson, Andrew Wilson, Destiny Wilson, Emily Wilson, Whitney Thorpe, and Tiffany Thomas.
Survivors also include his 57 great-grandchildren: Brian, Trinity, Morgan, Riley, Lex, Harley, Skyla, Abby, Evelyn, James, Olivia, Haley, Jaylen, Ian, Brennan, Michael, Jesse, Ruby, Billy, Aaron, Hayden, Deacon, Logan, Amelia, Aedra, Phoebe, Daphne, Marlena, Sawyer, Matthias, Zoey, Joycelyn, Carter, Patrick, Camden, Margot, Leo, Luke, Candice, Ayden, Henry, Aubrey, Mercedes, Tanya, Noah, Raelynne, Isla, Davion, Messiah, Royce, Na’Riah, Lyric, Matalin, Sophia, Kolton, Asa, and Jaxe; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents; one son, James, Jr.; 10 siblings, Willard, Homer, George, Charlie, Naomi, Rose, Margaret, Edward, Everett, Matilda; one granddaughter, Courtney; two great-granddaughters, Kaitlynn and Greenlee; and others lost before birth.
The funeral service will be held at 6:00 p.m., Sunday, October 31, 2021, at the Ferguson-Lee Chapel of Thorne-George Family Funeral Homes in Bedford with Pastor Reno Bates officiating. Burial will follow at a later date. Visitation will be Sunday, beginning at 2:00 p.m. and continuing until the service hour, also at Ferguson-Lee Chapel.
Memorial contributions may be sent in Jim’s memory to the Lawrence County Veteran’s Services.
Online condolences to the family may be made to www.FergusonLee.com.
