Wilmot Hurst Losee, Jr.

Wilmot H. “Bill” Losee, Jr., 90, husband of the late Jean Allison Gilpatrick Losee, died May 4, 2026, on his birthday at The Forest at Duke.

Bill was born May 4, 1936, in Mineola, New York, to the late Wilmot H. Losee, Sr. and Virginia Clowes See Losee. He attended school in Garden City, New York, and later attended Duke University, and was a proud member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, graduating in 1958. It was at Duke that Bill first discovered his love for Durham and the surrounding North Carolina community, a connection that would call him back later in life. While at Duke, he participated in the Naval ROTC as a midshipman. Following his education, he served for two years in the United States Marine Corps, where he was assigned to a howitzer battery, Second Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune, a period that reflected the discipline, steadiness, and sense of duty he carried throughout his life.

On July 18, 1959, Bill married Jean Allison Gilpatrick, beginning a lifelong partnership defined by devotion, shared purpose, and family. Together, they raised their children and built a home grounded in warmth, stability, and enduring values.

Following his military service, Bill began his professional career in Madison Avenue advertising, working with many of the premier print magazines in the country. His career brought him travel throughout the United States and around the world, and he carried those experiences with the same curiosity, humor, and storytelling gift that marked so much of his life.

He and Jean made their home in Garden City, New York, where they raised their family and were active members of The Cathedral of the Incarnation. They were also members of The Rockaway Hunting Club and the Lawrence Beach Club. Summers and weekends were often spent among friends and family, with Bill finding time for one of his great passions, golf—a round, or sometimes two—before returning to the rhythms of family life.

After retiring to Durham in 1989, Bill and Jean owned and operated the Durham Mailboxes, Etc. They became active members of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church and developed lasting friendships through their involvement in church and local organizations. In retirement, they also traveled often to visit family and friends across the United States and Europe.

Bill had a magnetic personality and was widely enjoyed for his humor, goodwill, and the stories he shared so easily with others. He was a voracious reader, an enthusiastic golfer, and a man who took great pride in his children and their success in business and in life.

Bill was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He is survived by his children, Elizabeth (Stephen), Geoffrey (Nancy), and James (Kim). He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Jean, and by his daughter, Allison, whose memory remained close to his heart throughout his life.

He is also survived by eight grandchildren—Emily, Andrew, Connor, Farrell, Liam, Patrick, Alden, and Dillon—many of whom were given personal nicknames by their grandfather, a small but lasting sign of his affection and humor. He is also survived by seven great-grandchildren, all of whom brought him great pride and joy.

Bill will be remembered for his quiet strength, steady character, magnetic warmth, and unwavering sense of responsibility. He was a man who led by example—present, dependable, deeply committed to those around him, and always ready with a story, a laugh, or a word of encouragement.

A Requiem Eucharist will be offered at 2:00 PM on Saturday, June 13th, 2026, at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Durham, North Carolina, with The Very Reverend Sanford “Sandy” Key and The Reverend Canon David B. Lowry.

Gifts in Bill’s memory may be made to The Jimmy V Foundation, 14600 Weston Place, Cary, NC 27513, or Duke Cancer Institute, 710 W. Main Street, Suite 200, Durham, NC 27701.