Robert J. Wilson On February 15, 2011. Age 79. Of Gloucester City. Formerly of South Camden. Loving son of the late Francis H. Wilson, Sr and the late Elizabeth V. (nee Jennings). Predeceased by his siblings Francis \”Reds\” Wilson, James Wilson, Jacob Ambruster and Elizabeth Teresa. Robert proudly served our country in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict from 1949 to 1952. He served with the First Calvary Div. 7^th Calvary Regiment from South Korea to North Korea. Robert was a Bronze Star Medal recipient for Valor Purple Heart, received three Battle stars, Korean Infantry Combat Badge and the New Jersey Distinctive Service Medal. He was a life member of the VFW Post and the Military Order of the Purple Heart. Robert retired from Philadelphia Naval Shipyard as a pipefitter and plumber.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend his viewing on Saturday morning from 9 to 10:30 AM at the McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME: 851 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 AM at Saint Mary’s R.C. Church: 426 Monmouth St., Gloucester City. Interment with U.S. Army Honors, Calvary Cemetery, Cherry Hill. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Animal Adoption Center: 501 North Berlin Road, Lindenwold, NJ 08021 or Mass Cards are appreciated. In the memo please write: Robert J. Wilson. 

Condolences and Memories may be shared at www.mccannhealey.com under the obituary of Robert J. Wilson. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries may be made through: McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME: 851 Monmouth St., Gloucester City, NJ 08030. PH: 856-456-1142

\”The current group of career and greedy politicians that comprise the Freeholder board have devastated Camden County far more than the recession.\” Scot DeCristofaro said. \”For Louis Cappelli, who is a career politician and benefits from lucrative school board and county contracts as a lawyer, to blame the economy is a sorry and easy excuse. The current group of Camden County Freeholders has controlled all seven seats for nearly two decades. This is their budget, their vision, and now, when push comes to shove, Mr. Cappelli demonstrates his leadership by pretending Camden County is the only government in the country to struggle. Like the police and fire layoffs and the attempt to privatize the corrections officers, these lays off are an indictment of Mr. Cappelli and his team’s inability to move Camden County forward by attracting and retaining domestic and foreign investment that creates jobs and a viable tax base. While many other counties throughout the entire east coast continue to attract and retain jobs and new investment in this economy, Camden County leads the way in whining, excuses and misleading explanations instead of trying to do something to fix it.\”

(submitted by Mike Ference)

From her expectant manner it was apparent that her question had been a rhetorical one.

When it came,my answer must have been a disappointment.\”I\’m not at all sure of that,\”

I said. Her smile faded and two wrinkles made furrows between her eyebrows.

\”But you\’ve been living in Japan for 33 years,\”She said.\”Perhaps that\’s the reason I can\’t answer your question,\”I replied. After six months or a year in Japan, many foreign visitors know all there is to know about the country, and I was no exception. How pleasant it is to understand everything, to be an expert. But as years pass, the facile generalization prove to have too many exceptions, the neat cliches are revealed as trivia,and the onetime expert feels that he knows less than when he first arrived.

The Dragons Tail

Fukuoka Prefecture sits like a fantastically shaped cap on the northern end of the map of Kyushu. Anchored to Honshu by tunnels and the bridge across Kanmon Straits,It is the conduit which trains and trucks and cars.Products and ideas and fashions find their way down from Tokyo into western Japan.Surrounded on three sides by water,it stretches from Buzen in the east on the Inland Sea to Yabe in the south, near the impressive Hyugami-kyo Gorge, to the industrial city of Omuta. North of Omuta,on the Ariake Sea, is Kurume, famous to Japanese for Bridgestone tires and to foreigners for azaleas. On the Sea of Japan, Shikaka Village, near the beautiful Kwya Peninsula, is the westernmost point. Moving east along the coast, the finger on the map stops at Fukuoka City, the political and financial capital, then moves east again to that vast amalgamation of five cities, and my home Kitakyushu,the industrial heart of modern Japan.

Within these boundaries the past, present and future live together. Behind high stone walls ancient gabled houses drowse in mossy gardens next to stark concrete and aluminum buildings as modern as science-fiction films.

At Nagatare Beach,or Waita Beach, under the old pines that stood watching the sea before the first sight of the Mongol invaders seven-hundred years ago,bikini-clad girls drink Coca-Cola and listen to pop-tunes from their transistor radios fill the air.

Thirty years have passed since my first sight of Kitakyushu City. I now realize how many places remain to be seen. During the early years my wife Keiko and I walked all over the city, dashed off into the countryside on most weekends, and snapped hundreds of pictures for remembrance. We visited Hiroadai,near Kitakyushu City,the hillside of white rocks against the green fields look just like grazing sheep,mountains,castles graceful yet arrogant in strength, Museums and at least a hundred temples and shrines are scattered across the city and countryside.

We swam in the beautiful clear green sea and laid on the white sand at Waita beach, searched Shikanoshima\’s edges for garden path stones for our garden,and sailed a dinghy on Hakata Bay. There is no end to Fukuoka Prefecture\’s variety. There is so much to see and do living here. It is a great place for our business being the Miller English School Japan and it was a great place to raise three wonderful children, we\’ve been most blessed and extremely happy living here in Kitakyushu City, Japan.

Warm Regards & Best Wishes to you all back in my hometown of Gloucester City ,from Kitakyushu City Japan.

Hank, Keiko Miller & Family