Richard L “Dick” Wilson, Sr., 94

December 18, 2025

Richard L “Dick” Wilson Sr, 94, of Lititz, formerly of Elysburg, passed away peacefully on December 18, 2025. He was the son of the late Charles and Bertha Wilson.

Born and raised in Bethlehem, PA, he was a graduate of Bethlehem Liberty High School and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from Moravian College in his hometown. After graduating from college, Dick proudly served as a medic in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955, spending most of his time stationed in Okinawa. He went on to earn a master’s degree in education and dedicated his professional life to teaching.

After his discharge from the military, he married the love of his life, Mary Louise Davis. They remained married for 60 years, until her passing in 2016. They were longtime Penn State football season ticket holders. Though Dick did not attend Penn State, he became a fervent PSU fan due to the influence of Mary and son Tom, who both attended Penn State. They traveled the country in retirement attending PSU away games, bowl games, Volksmarches and riding roller coasters. They also went out of their way to make time for their grandchildren. Trying to plan a surprise 40th anniversary party for them turned into an adventure because they only had two open dates on their calendar in the three months prior to their anniversary. They did not let the grass grow under their feet.

He gained an avid love for riding roller coasters at an early age from his sister, Frances. He not only retained that love for riding throughout his life but passed it along to his children and grandchildren as well. At one point, he and Mary had ridden every wooden roller coaster in existence in the country at the time. He celebrated his 80th birthday with his family riding one of his favorite coasters, the Phoenix at Knoebels Grove, multiple times.

Dick spent 30 years as an English and Spanish teacher, first at Ralpho Township High School, then, when Ralpho Township merged with two other nearby schools, at Southern Columbia High School, where he was known for his commitment to his students, whether via teaching, coaching, or advising. His students showed their love for him in many ways. His students referred to him simply as “Señor”. When students referred to “Señor”, everyone knew who they were talking about. Some students affectionately called his yellow VW Beetle the “Señormobile”. The ladies on his highly successful girls track and field team dubbed themselves “Wilson’s Wild Women”.

Dick was an avid gardener and loved sharing his bounty with neighbors. He was especially proud of his strawberry patch, though his first attempt at planting strawberries went somewhat awry. The family came home at dusk one evening to find the strawberry plants he had ordered on the back porch with instructions to plant immediately. Everyone scrambled in the dark to get the plants in the ground, only to find the next morning that there was no semblance of rows and many of the plants were in the ground upside down.

Dick enjoyed family time making sweet treats as well. Everyone had fun contributing when it was time to make homemade root beer, donuts, sticky buns, and ice cream. There was less enthusiasm from the kids when it was time to make his favorite jam, elderberry, as we had to drive countless back roads scouring the landscape for elderberry bushes, then stop and hop out of the car to pick enough of the very small berries to make a batch of jam.

He served his community in many ways. In addition to his teaching career, he was an active member and leader at Elysburg Presbyterian Church for many years and also was a member of the local Rotary Club. It was through his service in the Rotary Club that he opened his home to a foreign exchange student from New Zealand. He also served on the board of directors that established the Ralpho Township Public Library in 1973.

In addition to his wife, Mary, Dick was preceded in death by his parents and his son Richard Jr.

He is survived by his daughter, Linda (Tom) Nicholas, Ephrata, PA; his daughter-in-law, Tracey Wilson, Catawissa, PA; his son, Thomas (Melanie) Wilson, Harrisburg, PA; and his daughter Becky (Jeff) Blass, Catawissa, PA. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren: Thomas (Stephanie) Nicholas, Richmond, VA; Katie (Joseph) Vowell, Spring City, PA; Amy (Andrew) Sparks, Elmwood Park, IL; Richard Wilson III, Mt Carmel, PA; Robert Wilson, Binghamton, NY; Sarah (West) Bard, Seven Valleys, PA; Abbie Wilson, Elizabethtown, PA; Davis Blass, Plantation, FL; JoEllen (Anudeep) Alberts, Stroudsburg, PA; and Kirstin (Colby) Smith, Naples, FL. He also leaves behind 10 great-grandchildren: TJ, Elliot, and Benjamin Nicholas; Callie Vowell; Jameson and Carson Bard; Vivenna and Victra Alberts; and Crew and Corbin Smith.

Dick will always be fondly remembered for his kind and gentle spirit, his sense of humor, his love of riding roller coasters, and his love for his family. His legacy will live on through the lives of his family and the countless other people he touched with his presence throughout his life.

A private celebration of life will be held at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Brethren Village Good Samaritan Fund, 3001 Lititz Pike, Lancaster, PA 17606 (www.bv.org).