James L. Wilson

James L. Wilson, MD. of Wellsboro left this earth on November 14th, 2022. Jim passed peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family.
Son of Arthur Wilson and Dorothea Badman of Wellsboro, he graduated from Wellsboro High School and Mansfield University. It was at Mansfield he would meet his lifelong love, Joan Rogers. Jim and Joan married and he continued his education at Thomas Jefferson University Medical School. After graduating medical school, he completed a three-year tour of duty with the United States Air Force, followed by two years as chief flight surgeon at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey.
After leaving the service he returned to Wellsboro and joined the practice of doctors Webster, Erway, and Bachman. Jim and Joan raised their three sons Scott, Jeff and Steve here, in Wellsboro, where they built their forever home. Jim was active in the community and a member of several service organizations. He also served as Tioga County Coroner for over 4 decades. An avid golfer, he also enjoyed hunting, both locally and throughout North America.
A lifelong resident of Tioga County, he practiced medicine for over fifty years serving the community he loved. He always considered himself as an "old time country doctor", seeing patients, delivering babies, performing house calls at all hours and always willing to dispense medical advice, whether in his office, the local grocery store or even at the hunting camp. Jim loved being a physician and helping people. As he stated at his retirement banquet, "I never went to work a day in my life".
It cannot go unsaid however, that the real passion of his life was his life-long love story with his wife Joan. After meeting in college, Jim quickly realized they were true soul mates and never looked back. They married shortly after and began raising a family as he finished his medical education. Jim and Joan travelled the world together and seldom were apart anytime he was not in the office or hospital. This included golfing and even hunting trips to the Canadian Rockies. They had many friends who would often join them on travels. Both enjoyed being grandparents and were frequently traversing the state to attend softball games, stage plays, and swim meets. In later years as Joan's health began to fail, they continued to spend countless hours together sharing meals, binging television shows and loving each other in a way that even Hollywood cannot capture. Sadly, this included bedside vigils holding hands at his wife's bedside as she suffered a series of debilitating strokes. Joan passed this past March at home in his loving embrace and despite his best efforts to go on without her, life could never be the same. Jim passed happy knowing that the next chapter of this classic love story was about to be written as he reunited with his beloved one and only.
He is survived by Sons: Scott, husband of Kristen, of Macungie; Jeff, husband of Diane, of Wellsboro; Steve of Wellsboro, and Graham White of Butler who was considered as a son. In addition, he is survived by grandchildren: Alexandra and husband Eric Zerkel, Matthew Wilson, Peyton Wilson, Trey Wilson and Troy Wilson; Brock and Kristie Driebelbies of Wellsboro and great-granddaughter Elliette Driebelbies. He is also survived by brother Gary Wilson, husband of Sandy, of Wellsboro, Sister-In-Law Judy Maring, wife of David, of Georgetown S.C. and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by brothers Larue and Clifford.
A private service is being held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Wellsboro and in lieu of flowers the family requests donations in Jim's memory to Shriner's Children's Hospitals.
Services are under the direction of Tussey-Mosher Funeral Home of Wellsboro, PA. To share a memory or condolence with his family visit www.tusseymosher.com.

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