Virginia Sanders Hocking

Asheville - Virginia Sanders Hocking, 92, died Wednesday March 5, 2003 at the WNC Baptist Home after a period of declining health. A native of Columbia S.C., she had lived in Asheville most of her life. She was a member of Malvern Hills Presbyterian Church and had retired from the National Climatic Data Center after 30 years of service. She was a loving wife and mother. She was a daughter of the late Eugene Seldon and Caroline Roberts Sanders and the wife of the late James Thomas Hocking. She was also preceded in death by a son, James Todd Hocking; grandson, Stuart Thomas Harpe; sisters, Gladys S. Kelly, Sara S. Mickle, Eva Sanders and Hazel S. Bennett and brothers, Ralph and Roy Sanders. Surviving are her daughter, Margot Harpe and husband Eugene of Waynesville; son, Samuel Hocking and wife Susan of Asheville; grandchildren, Stephen C. Harpe and wife Sherry of Waynesville, Melinda Gibbons and husband Pat of Camden, S.C. and Kimberly Hocking and Christopher Hocking both of Asheville; great grandchildren, Maggie Gibbons and Graham Gibbons of Camden, S.C. and Stephanie Harpe and Paige Harpe of Waynesville. Funeral services will be held at 3:30 P.M. Sunday at Malvern Hills Presbyterian Church with Rev. Dr. Buddy Corbin, Rev. Doug Tilley and Rev. Peter Jones officiating. Burial will be in Green Hills Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2:30 to 3:30 Sunday at the church. Memorials may be made to: Malvern Hills Presbyterian Church, Building Fund, 2 Bear Creek Road, Asheville, N.C. 28806