J. Christy Wilson Jr. ’44

Six months after lung cancer diagnosis, Christy departed this life Feb. 8, 1999, to join his maker. In our 50th Yearbook, this devout man who dedicated his life to Christianity wrote, "Serving my Lord Jesus Christ has been a great joy," and so it was for him and those he served.

Born of missionary parents in Iran, Christy came to Princeton as Lawrenceville's valedictorian and was a distance runner in cross country and captain of varsity track at Princeton. After Princeton Theological Seminary and a PhD in Islamic studies at Edinburgh, Scotland, he went to Afghanistan, where for 22 years he taught English in public schools, tutored the crown prince, was chaplain for the foreign community, and built the first Christian church after a personal assist from President Eisenhower. He then spent time at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in S. Hamilton, Mass., and returned on several occasions to help Afghan refugees. After 18 more years at Gordon-Conwell as professor of world evangelization, he retired in 1992 to Duarte, Calif., where he died.

To his wife, Betty Jean, his children Nancy, Christy III, and Martin, and to his 11 grandchildren, we share in your loss and shall miss this dedicated man who also served as our first class secretary. God bless, Christy.

The Class of 1944