John Wesley Wilson, 55, of Stewart Street, Welch, died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2003 at St. Luke's Hospital of a short illness.

Born Aug. 11, 1947, in Welch, he was the son of the late Johnson and Forrest Wilson of Pageton.

He was a faithful husband and loving father. He was a former mayor of Welch. He was employed by McDowell County Schools as a teacher at Mount View Middle School and was the owner and operator of Nighthawk Security in Welch. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Welch, and was also a member and past president of the Welch Lions Club.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Tommy Wilson.

Survivors include his wife, Rebecca Hawthorne Wilson; son Johnny; daughter, Jennifer and husband Matthew Stull; sisters, Donna Baily and husband Gene, Carol Goff and husband Cary, Jenny Christian and husband Sam; brother, Jessie Wilson and wife Bridget; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday at the Chapel of Fanning Funeral Home in Welch. Burial will follow at the Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Princeton.

Pallbearers will be Matt Stull, David Falin, Mark Jones, Dennis Hardy, Freddie Hardee, Wayne Hicks, Russ Rice and Mike Crouse.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 6-9 p.m. today.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the charity of your choice.

Fanning Funeral Home of Welch in in charge of the arrangements.