Nicholas George Wilson, III, born December 25, 1930, in Norfolk, died Saturday, March 12, 2016, at his home in Virginia Beach.
Mr. Wilson was a graduate of Woodberry Forest School and the University of Virginia. He served in the U.S. Navy for two years prior to returning to Norfolk in 1954 to join his father’s firm, Door Engineering Corporation, from which he retired in 1999 after selling the company to its employees. Building on the foundation provided by his father, he grew the company into the largest and most diversified supplier and contractor for specialty products in the region.
Among the areas of service in which he was active during his life were the United Way; the Builders Exchange, where he served as president; Westminster Canterbury, where he served as a member and chair of the Building Committee, and subsequently on the board of directors; The Mary F. Ballentine Home for the Aged, serving on the board for 35 years, the last 15 as chairman; the Alumni Association at the University of Virginia, where he was a founding member of the College Fundraising Group, a member and president of the Alumni Association’s Board of Managers and the founding member of the Rotunda Society, now the Annual Giving Advisory Board.
Upon his retirement, he was elected chairman emeritus. During his service to the university, he was elected to the honorary leadership fraternity, ODK, and in recognition of his contributions to academic affairs in the college, he was elected to the Raven Society. Mr. Wilson also served as a board member of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, and as chair for some years on the institute’s Regional Board.
He served as a volunteer reader to students in Norfolk elementary schools for 20 years, and the Norfolk Rotary Club awarded him its Children’s Literacy Volunteer Service recognition for 2007, noting his faithful commitment over a long period at Jacox and Ghent public schools. Mr. Wilson prized his many friendships and activities at the Virginia Club, where he served two terms as president.
The Episcopal Church was an important part of his life. He was a member of the Church of the Good Shepherd from birth until he and his wife moved to Virginia Beach soon after their marriage. They became members of Eastern Shore Chapel, where he served multiple terms on its vestry, several times as senior warden, and as a member and chair of the Stewardship Committee, the Building Committee, and the Cemetery Committee. He served several times as a delegate to the Diocesan Council and on special commissions called by the bishop.
He was the son of Nicholas G. Wilson Jr. and Elizabeth Tyler Wilson, and the husband of Audrey Darden Wilson. He is survived by his sons, Nicholas G. Wilson IV, and his wife, Linda, and Mark Tyler Wilson, and his daughters, Hastings and Darden. His daughter, Anne Wilson Thompson, and her son, John Timothy Thompson Jr., preceded him in death. He is also survived by his sisters, Elizabeth W. Woodruff, and Susan W. Pender, and her husband, David.
Mr. Wilson’s memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, at Eastern Shore Chapel Episcopal Church. A private burial will follow.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Chapel Pantry at the church, 2020 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23454.
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