John Phillip "Phil" Wilson

John P. “Phil” Wilson, 79, of Morgantown, Indiana, formerly of Trafalgar, Indiana passed away on Friday, August 28, 2026.

He was born April 27, 1947 in Linton, Greene County, Indiana to a coal miner, William Thomas Wilson and a British immigrant, Mary Alice (Turk) Wilson. In 1957 Phil and his parents moved to Johnson County, Indiana where his parents lived and worked at the Methodist Home. Phil married Marsha Diane (Hearn) Wilson on July 3, 1971 at the Methodist Home. Marsha preceded him in death on June 4, 2018.

Phil is survived by his three children, John P. Wilson II (Jenny) of Bargersville, Indiana; Julie S. (Wilson) Steenberger (Jason) of Franklin, Indiana; and Jennifer D. Wilson Reagan (Mike) of Morgantown, Indiana. Phil is also survived by his grandchildren, Caleb Wilson, Isaac Wilson, Sadie Wilson, Kasey Susannah Wilson, Zack Wilson (Monica), Savannah Steenberger, Jason R. Steenberger II, Michael Phillip Reagan and Tristan Reagan. Phil is survived by his great-grandchildren, Colton Wilson, Sophia Ellett, Oakley Wilson, and Hunter Turpin. Phil was preceded in death by his grandson, Collin Neese, on March 23, 2011, his parents, and his loving friend and partner Gayle Allard on September 23, 2023.

Phil graduated from Franklin Community High School in 1965. In 1967, he earned an Associate of Arts from Vincennes University followed in 1970 by a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Evansville. In 1974, he earned his Juris Doctor from the Indiana University School of Law at Indianapolis and was admitted to the practice of law that same year.

Phil was a SSG in the United States Army Reserve. He enlisted in 1968 and served honorably for 7 years. He was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on September 24th, 1968 at Franklin Lodge #107 F. & A. M., was a member of the Methodist Church, and was active in Johnson County Republican politics serving on many campaign teams throughout the years.

Phil served the Johnson County and surrounding communities for 50 years as a trial attorney, most notably spending 34 of those years as the public defender for the Johnson Circuit Court. Phil also served as the attorney for the Johnson County Council.

Phil’s career was legendary. He absolutely loved the courtroom and to see him in action during a jury trial was extraordinary. He believed that as a defense attorney, the focus is not on guilt or innocence. Instead, he believed that his most significant task was to protect the Constitutional rights of his clients, but that by doing so he was also protecting the Constitutional rights of all American citizens.

When he was not defending liberty, Phil enjoyed studying American history, particularly the Civil War. He traveled to dozens of battlefields and historic sights and boasts a history book collection that is second to none. At home, Phil enjoyed working in his wood shop, where he would tinker and create for hours. Ever the historian, Phil particularly focused on the use of hand tools in his woodworking. During his lifetime, Phil owned an apple orchard and was a beekeeper.

A service will be conducted on Thursday, September 10, 2026 at 10:00 AM at Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center, 300 South U.S. 31 (Morton Street) in Franklin, IN. The service will be conducted by The Honorable Judge Douglas B. Cummins and will include a Masonic service by Franklin Lodge #107. The services will be live streamed at www.swartzmortuary.com/obituary/johnphilwilson.com.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center.

Burial will follow the service with military honors being conducted by the United States Army Honor Guard and Franklin American Legion Honor Guard 205 at Greenlawn Cemetery in Franklin, IN.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.swartzmortuary.com. Information 317-738-0202. Memorial contributions can be made to the Johnson County Bar Association Scholarship Fund by mailing a check payable to the JCBA, c/o Johnson Circuit Court, 5 East Jefferson Street, Franklin, Indiana 46131 and the words “Scholarship Fund in Memory of JPW”. Memorial contributions may also be made to the Indiana Public Defender Scholarship Fund located at https://donorbox.org/ipdc-s-trial-practice-institute-scholarship-fund.

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