Obituary of William Edward Gilson

William Edward Gilson, age 94, passed away Friday, April 28, 2017 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Paterson. Mr. Gilson was born November 1, 1922 in Paterson, NJ the son of the late William and the late Elizabeth (Feeney) Gilson. He was a Wayne Resident for the last 67 years. Mr. Gilson was retired from New Jersey Transit in 1986 where he was a Conductor for 40 years. He served in the US Marine Corps, 2nd Marines, and 2nd division during World War II in Tarawa and Saipan in the South Pacific. Mr. Gilson was awarded 2 Presidential Citations, the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. He was the Past Post Commander of Veterans of Foreign War Post #1931, Wayne and a longtime member of Our Lady of the Valley R.C. Church. He is survived by his two sons: Robert J. of Washington, DC and Edward T. and his wife Mary of Sussex, NJ, two grandchildren, Michael & Kristine; two nieces, Elizabeth Bogert and Kathleen Henderson and five nephews: Thomas, Joseph, George, Lawrence and David Henderson. He was predeceased by his wife, Mary Grace (Henderson) in 2005. Visiting hours will be Tuesday from 4-8 PM. The funeral Mass will be Wednesday at 10:00 am at Our Lady of The Valley R.C. Church, 630 Valley Rd., Wayne and will be celebrated by Fr. Peter Wells. Interment will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Totowa. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105