Richard Wentworth Wilson, Jr., loving husband and father and broadcast news journalist, passed away after a long battle with cancer on the morning of May 8, 2017. He was 68. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth Pemberton Wilson (Pem), children Jennifer S. Stevens, Edward P. Wilson (Ted), and Thomas A .W. W i lson, so n -­ i n-­ la w K i t St eve n s , and g rand c h i ldren Stra ff ord and A ttley Stevens.

Richard was born in Hartford, Connecticut April 25, 1949, to Florence Margaret and Richard Wentworth Wilson, Sr, where he grew up with his younger brother, Joseph P. Wilson. He pursued studies in journalism beginning at Ithaca College where he received a B.S. in Communications in 1970, and at Syracuse University, where he received an M.S. in Communications in 1971. He was famous in his college days for his yearly Oscar's parties hosted at a local hotel.

Richard had a long and productive career as a journalist and in communications. His first job was in radio n e ws for " V o ic e of Ame r ic a" ( W A SH-­- F M) in Washington, D.C., where he wrote a n d broadcast domestic and international headlines at night, communicating American news to audiences in Asia. He t he n worke d i n t elevisio n n ews , wri t i ng and p r o ducin g fo r t h e pionee r ing and hi g hl y-­-rat e d politica l talk show "Agronsky and Company," and at WDVM, a CBS affiliate in Washington.  While in Washington, he met his wife, Pem, who was working as a legislative aide at the U.S. House of Representatives. Pem and Richard liked to laugh about the time they first met – they were taking a walk in the park and accidentally touched hands (embarrassing at the time) and the nearby bell tower started playing "Here Comes the Bride." Richard and Pem married in 1980 at St. Alban's Church at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.

Richard and Pem moved to New York, NY, where he worked as a writer at CBS News, and then to Los Angeles, CA, where he was Head Writer for Emmy-­-winning hit show "Entertainment Tonight." In 1986 they moved to their current home in Marietta, GA, where Richard worked for 19 years as a writer, reporter, and producer for CNN. More recently, he worked as Executive Vice President overseeing communications for an alternative energy startup, Xethanol Corporation, and in print media as an editor for business magazines Global Vision and Forbes Africa.

Richard was a great father and grandfather, who helped his kids develop an appreciation for good literature with his witty renditions of kids stories, and bedtime puppet shows.  His go-­-to for bedtime songs was "Blue Suede Shoes." He loved to travel, and introduced his children to the bigger world at a young age, bringing his family on interesting work trips to interview Jacques Cousteau in Paris, or discovering their roots following family documents through Dublin, Ireland.

He was a car enthusiast, and loved to drive. His family remembers some wild trips in the passenger seat. Once, bringing Pem and his young children home from the 1996 Olympic opening ceremony in his red Jeep Cherokee, he saw a woman pushed out of her car by a carjacker ahead. "Kids, put your heads down!" he yelled as he peeled out, following the carjacker. Stopping only briefly to convince a nearby police officer to hop in the back seat, he commenced a chase through the nighttime streets of Atlanta. The cop managed to hop out at a stoplight and penned in the carjacker after Richard quickly pulled ahead and blocked the way out from the front. The kids cowered on the floorboards, laughing hysterically as the criminal was pulled out of the vehicle and apprehended. When you got in the car with Richard, you never knew what would happen.

Throughout his time with cancer, he said "I guess I've always been a fighter, and I still am."

Richard's family will commemorate his life with a private service held at the Memorial Garden at the Cathedral of St. Philip, led by Canon Wallace Marsh. Please join them afterward for a reception open to friends and family at 10:00am, in the Gould Room at the Cathedral of St. Philip, 2744 Peachtree Rd. NW, Atlanta, GA 30305

In Lieu of flowers, the family would like to request help to cover Richard's medical expenses, or donations made in his name to the Skin Cancer Foundation.


Psalm 31

1    In you, O L ORD , have I taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame:
deliver me in your righteousness.

2    Incline your ear to me;
make haste to deliver me.

3    Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe,
for you are my crag and my stronghold;
for the sake of your Name, lead me and guide me.

4    Take me out of the net that they have secretly set for me,
for you are my tower of strength.

5    Into your hands I commend my spirit,
for you have redeemed me,
O L ORD , O God of truth.