Juliana "Jan" Wilson's Obituary
On Friday, June 10, 2022, Juliana “Jan” Wilson died in Bountiful, Utah, just days before her one-hundred-and-first birthday. Jan lived a full, vibrant life and remained active and engaged until her final weeks. Those who met Jan were struck by her grace and elegance, and her quiet, self-deprecating nature despite her incredible accomplishments.
Born Juliana Sarah Davis on June 16, 1921, in Jacksonville, FL, to Chaires Bowman Davis and Alice Gwynn Dancy Davis, Jan grew up as the middle of five children. Education was always her priority, and she graduated from Brevard Junior College in 1940, then Florida State College for Women (now Florida State) with a BS in Education in 1942. Upon graduating, she enlisted with the US Navy WAVES and was assigned to Treasure Island near San Francisco, where she served as Storekeeper, 2nd Class.
While at Brevard, Jan met her future husband, T. Stanton “Stan” Wilson. The two had been corresponding for years when Stan invited Jan to use her upcoming leave to visit him in Alaska, where he was working. After reuniting, they married on May 19, 1945, in Anchorage. The couple attended law school at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. In 1950 they moved to Alaska, where Jan became the fifth female to be admitted to the bar. They homesteaded on the Kenai Peninsula, eventually practicing law together in Anchorage. Their son, Dale Brent, was born in 1956, followed by their daughter, Diana Lynn, in 1958.
Jan was a prominent and respected member of the Alaska legal community and a pioneer for women in law. She practiced full-time while raising a family and helped shape the city of Anchorage through her work. Jan did not view herself primarily as a trial lawyer but counted an appearance before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit as one of the highlights of her career. After retiring, she kept her license and continued taking cases “on the side” until the age of 88.
Jan volunteered for countless organizations, among them the Alaska Convention and Visitors Bureau, in the center downtown affectionately known as the “log cabin”; Quota International, a service club for female professionals; the American Legion; and Alaska Regional Hospital. Her more than thirty years of service to Alaska Regional earned her the prestigious Frist Humanitarian Award in 2014, just one of her many honors and recognitions.
Someone who truly appreciated music, Jan sang in choirs throughout her life—in school, in WAVES, in church, and in the Anchorage Community Chorus, where her daughter has fond memories of Jan performing Gilbert and Sullivan. She enjoyed musical performances of all kinds, and especially looked forward to opera outings. She loved playing pinochle and doing crossword puzzles. She travelled widely, and never stopped learning about the places she visited. Like a true southerner, she drank iced tea at every opportunity.
At age 98, after living in Alaska for nearly seventy years, Jan relocated to be near family in Bountiful, Utah. She fully embraced her new life.
Jan was devoted to her faith, a longtime member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and later Central Lutheran Church, both in Anchorage. Once she moved to Utah, she attended the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Centerville.
Survived by her sister Alice (Chet) Gillis, son Dale (Joni) Wilson, daughter Diana (Robert) Wing, grandchildren Emily (Daniel) Smith, Juliana (Reo) Manning, Ethan (Cami) Wing, Andrew Wing, Hannah Wing, and seven great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by her siblings Chaires, Elise, and Bette, and her husband Stan.
Services will be held Friday, July 15, 2022, 11 a.m., at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, 1131 S. Main Street, Centerville.
Jan lived a life of service. In lieu of sending flowers, the family asks you honor that legacy by donating to a community organization of your choosing.
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