Obituary for Robert Lane Wilson
Robert L. Wilson, 74, of West Amwell, NJ, died on Friday, July 5, 2019 at Capital Health’s Hopewell Campus.
Born in Trenton, NJ, Bob was a lifelong resident of West Amwell Township. He owned and operated Wilson Harpsichords in West Amwell, NJ. Inspired by his father’s work as a piano tuner and his mother’s as a church organist, Bob began his love of keyboard instruments. He also developed a gifted ability at fine craftsmanship and combined his interests in a unique career. He restored old grand pianos as both musical instruments and as fine pieces of furniture. His interest in history led to his becoming a builder of harpsichords. Bob had vast knowledge of the development of keyboard instruments. He knew the stages of their evolution from century to century and from country to country. In his career he built 89 harpsichords. Bob’s skills did not end there. He built his own home and restored old cars. He restored a 1902 sailboat and spent over 30 summers sailing Barneget Bay. Bob was a member of the National Ski Patrol and enjoyed skiing Bell Mountain.
A devoted family man, Bob was the son of the late John W. and Ellen Lane Wilson, the brother of the late Stephen R. Wilson and the brother-in-law of the late Carol Bowers Wilson. Bob is survived by his wife Linda E. Wilson; his children Virginia Atwood of Delaware City, De. and Duane Richardson and his wife Jane of West Amwell; his grandchildren Ian Pardy, Bradley Pardy, Ivy Pardy, Alexis Richardson and Duane Richardson; his brothers John Arthur Wilson of West Amwell and Larry P. Wilson and his wife Kathy of Mainesburg, PA; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 12, at 11 am at the Van Horn-McDonough Funeral Home, 21 York Street, Lambertville, NJ 08530.
There will be calling hours at the funeral home on Thursday evening from 6 to 9 pm.
Donations in Bob’s memory may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation (www.parkinson.org) 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, NY, NY 19918.
Born in Trenton, NJ, Bob was a lifelong resident of West Amwell Township. He owned and operated Wilson Harpsichords in West Amwell, NJ. Inspired by his father’s work as a piano tuner and his mother’s as a church organist, Bob began his love of keyboard instruments. He also developed a gifted ability at fine craftsmanship and combined his interests in a unique career. He restored old grand pianos as both musical instruments and as fine pieces of furniture. His interest in history led to his becoming a builder of harpsichords. Bob had vast knowledge of the development of keyboard instruments. He knew the stages of their evolution from century to century and from country to country. In his career he built 89 harpsichords. Bob’s skills did not end there. He built his own home and restored old cars. He restored a 1902 sailboat and spent over 30 summers sailing Barneget Bay. Bob was a member of the National Ski Patrol and enjoyed skiing Bell Mountain.
A devoted family man, Bob was the son of the late John W. and Ellen Lane Wilson, the brother of the late Stephen R. Wilson and the brother-in-law of the late Carol Bowers Wilson. Bob is survived by his wife Linda E. Wilson; his children Virginia Atwood of Delaware City, De. and Duane Richardson and his wife Jane of West Amwell; his grandchildren Ian Pardy, Bradley Pardy, Ivy Pardy, Alexis Richardson and Duane Richardson; his brothers John Arthur Wilson of West Amwell and Larry P. Wilson and his wife Kathy of Mainesburg, PA; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 12, at 11 am at the Van Horn-McDonough Funeral Home, 21 York Street, Lambertville, NJ 08530.
There will be calling hours at the funeral home on Thursday evening from 6 to 9 pm.
Donations in Bob’s memory may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation (www.parkinson.org) 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, NY, NY 19918.