Melba Wilson

Matthews, NC - Melba Thompson Wilson, age 83, a longtime resident of Asheville, NC died at Carrington Place in Matthews, NC on July 2, 2013 after a lengthy illness. She was born in Robeson County, NC, on March 17, 1930 to the late Isabel Eudora Stone Thompson and Odis Thompson. She is predeceased by her stepmother, Nora Lamb Thompson, 10 siblings, and her husband, Ivan Jakey "Jake" Wilson. She was a homemaker who always found time for volunteering and helping others. She held a number of volunteer positions over many years in the Pisgah Girl Scout Council, including troop leader and president of the council. She was also a volunteer and Area Representative for AFS where she helped find host families for foreign exchange students and teachers and identified local students to be exchange students abroad. She loved to travel, to learn about new people and places, to visit and talk with others, and believed in helping others whenever she could. She is survived by her children, Tom Wilson of Asheville, Beth Wilson Bowers of Charlotte (Gary), Mary Wilson Kitts of Greensboro (Alan), and Jean Wilson Holliday of Cary (Jon); 8 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren; a brother, Earl Thompson of Garner; and a sister, Janice Thompson Tucker of Durham. A memorial service will be held at the Anders-Rice Funeral Home chapel, 1428 Patton Avenue, Asheville, NC, on July 13, 2013 at 2:00 PM. The family will receive friends at 1:00 PM at the funeral home. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery, Asheville, NC. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Carolina Peaks to Piedmont Girl Scout Council designating the donation for the Pisgah Girl Scout Camp or to the American Field Service (AFS), or to a favorite charity.