Charles Thomas ‘Tom’ Wilson died March 22, 2017 after overcoming challenges to his health with grace, courage and determination.
Tom was born on February 8, 1941, in Memphis, Tennessee. His parents were Charles Lewis and Mary Frances Wilson. He graduated from East High School in Memphis and the University of Kentucky with a degree in Economics and Business. He was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma business fraternity. Shortly after completing the Financial Training Program at General Electric in Louisville, Kentucky, Tom took a position with Fiber Industries, a division of Celanese Corporation in Charlotte, North Carolina. After a twenty year career with Celanese he then spent the next two decades consulting, often with L&H Technologies, his own business Strategic Planning Services, and with his partner James F. Simmons at Custom Solution Builders, retiring in 2008. Tom spent six years in the Air National Guard, serving eighteen months of active duty. He was a lifelong member of the Baptist church, serving as deacon and Sunday School teacher. He served on Wingate University’s Board of Trustees for many years, often as Chairman. In 2009 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Wingate. In retirement, he enjoyed managing his family’s farmland in Somerville, Tennessee and living on a farm in the mountains outside of Sparta, North Carolina, where he and his wife enjoyed the frequent visits of friends and family.
His greatest titles were those of husband, father, brother, uncle and friend. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Alice Ford Wilson and their two daughters, Elaine Wilson Stowe (Jay) and daughter Emma of Huntsville, AL and Mary Jane Wilson Wade (Steve) and daughters Morgan and Mary Bishop Wade of Cary, NC. He is also survived by his sister, Eleanor Nutt Maddox (Bob) of Louisville, Kentucky and several nieces and nephews. The family wishes to express their most sincere gratitude for the enduring friendship of the Hoover family and the end of life caregiving provided by Ms. Doris Cole and Mr. Winfield Castello.
Services will be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy can be made to the Lewis and Frances Wilson Scholarship at Wingate University, 220 N Camden Rd, Wingate, NC 28174.
