John Wing; Feb. 27, 2012

John Wing
Feb. 27, 2012

John J. Wing, Jr., 80, of Madison passed away Monday, Feb. 27.

John’s life is a true love story. It’s a love of life, his family, his many, many friends, his church, and his passion for anything mechanical – a true mechanical genius. It’s a life of minute-by-minute challenges to conquer. His will to overcome earned him the title of “Energizer Bunny.” At age five, he contracted the most severe form of Poliomyelitis – affecting his limbs and torso. Two years were spent in rehab at Lakeville, Mass. State Hospital with only the arms and part of the back muscles returning to use. Many surgical procedures were later done to straighten the back, and a transplanted tendon allowed him to operate a gas pedal – his one desire.

He graduated from Amesbury High School in Massachusetts with the class of 1949, where he met his wife, Roma. He went on to business college, but his passion was in mechanical design. He spent years at night studying at U.N.H. and Lowell Tech., earning a Professional Engineering License. He worked designing auto parts, on projects for the early days of the space program, headed the R&D at an industrial dehumidification company, and later started his own desgn business.

His love for his family was always first and he spent time with them boating on the North Shore or camping in the woods of New Hampshire and Vermont. He encouraged their love of music and would help them get started on instrument of choice. He was a scout leader, a deacon in his church, and a 32nd degree Mason. He was loved.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Roma Wing; children, Michael Wing of Huntsville, Brian Wing (Denise) of Mesa, Az., and Jacqueline Wing Meurer of Huntsville; grandchildren, Benjamin Wing (Tanya) of Ft. Campbell, Clarksville, Tenn., Toby Wing of Mesa, Az., Jessica Meurer Nixon (Ramsis) of Mt. Home Airbase, Id. and Katherine Meurer of Huntsville; great-grandchildren, Novalee and Olivia Wing, of Ft. Campbell, Clarksville, Tenn.

Visitation was from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 1 at Laughlin Service Funeral Home. A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 2 at Trinity Baptist Church with Dr. Michael Oliver officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Trinity Baptist Church Music Ministry.