Julius Wilson

Julius left this world listening to his favorite songs, surrounded by his family after a full life of curiosity, conviction, and adventure.

Born on November 30, 1951, in Wheeling, West Virginia, Julius was the middle child of John and Maurine Wilson. And true to his home state’s motto, he lived a life that was both wild and wonderful. Julius shared countless adventures with his older sister, Diana, as her faithful sidekick, and lovingly watched over his younger sister, Sylvia, always encouraging and protecting her.

His journeys took him across the country and around the world. While attending law school in Portland, Oregon, Julius met the love of his life, Kuniko. They married—in the most romantic way possible, in a hurry—in 1980, and in 1982 began building a family. Their marriage was one of enduring love, partnership, and shared adventure.

Julius devoted his professional life to corrections and rehabilitation, where he built a distinguished career dedicated to the belief that people deserve second chances. Through his leadership, vision, and commitment to restorative practices, he helped shape programs that gave thousands of individuals the opportunity to rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.

To know Julius was to know someone impossible to categorize. He was a dreamer and a brilliant thinker, an engaging conversationalist, an amateur historian, and an adventurer at heart. He possessed an infectious curiosity about the world, an uncanny ability to anticipate what was around the corner, and an unwavering faith in both himself and others. He was equal parts mischief and magic, never far from a story, an idea, or a laugh that could fill a room.

Above all else, Julius cherished his family. He was a devoted husband, loving father, proud grandfather, beloved brother, uncle, cousin, friend, and colleague. His legacy lives on not only through the lives he touched professionally, but through the love, laughter, and sense of possibility he instilled in those closest to him.

Julius is survived by his mother, Maurine, his beloved wife, Kuniko; his children, Angela (Devin), Julia, and Jonah (Bethany); his cherished grandchildren and grandpups, Giselle, Atlas, Kenzo, Hiro, Nori, Raizo, Odette, and Aurora; his sisters, Diana and Sylvia (Ray); his nieces and a nephew, Margo, Kenesha, Glenn, and Leah, along with their spouses and children; and a host of family and friends near and far. And he is remembered alongside his father, John.

His family will forever miss his laughter, his wisdom, his adventurous spirit, and the way he encouraged those around him to dream boldly, think deeply, and believe that tomorrow could always be better than today.