THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 1, 1995 TAG: 9501010022
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
William M. Wilson, 64, of the 800 block of Queen Elizabeth Drive, died Dec. 25, 1994, in Virginia Beach. Dr. Wilson was born in Five Points, Ala., and was the son of the late Robert Cret and Drucilla Park Wilson.
Dr. Wilson was Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the College at Virginia Wesleyan College. He joined the staff at Virginia Wesleyan in 1971, coming to the college after serving as chaplain, faculty member, and chairman of the department of religion and philosophy at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C., for 10 years.
During his 24 years at Virginia Wesleyan, he provided leadership for the beginning of several important programs, including the Liberal Arts Management Program, a management/business/economics major; the Adult Studies Program, which allows working adults to complete their degrees; and the Wesleyan Scholars Program, which provides scholarships to attract academically gifted students from all over the country. He also worked closely with the gifted program in the Virginia Beach City Public Schools, arranging Saturday courses on the campus for young students.
Dr. Wilson was a member of Virginia Beach United Methodist Church, where he served on the Administrative Board and the Music Committee. He was the teacher for the Agape Class, an adult church school class, for 18 years. A licensed United Methodist minister, he had been a member of the North Alabama and the South Carolina Conferences of the United Methodist Church before moving to the Hampton Roads area, where he joined the Virginia Conference. During his years in college and graduate school, he served in a number of part- and full-time positions with several United Methodist churches.
Dr. Wilson, who attended public schools in Birmingham, Ala., received a bachelor's degree from Birmingham-Southern College, a master of divinity degree from Vanderbilt University Divinity School, and a doctorate in Biblical studies from Vanderbilt University Graduate School. Active in a number of organizations during his student years, he served as vice president of the student body and as choirmaster of the chorus at Vanderbilt University Divinity School. He was a member of several honor societies, including Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK), and was instrumental in the chartering of a Circle of ODK at Virginia Wesleyan.
Survivors include his wife, Martha Jo Wilson; a son, Scott Wilson, and his wife, Alison Wilson of Chesapeake; daughters, Beth Wilson of Atlanta and Lisa Wilson of Virginia Beach; and a son, Cret Wilson of Washington, D.C.; granddaughters, Morgan and Katie of Chesapeake; sisters, Mary Shamblin of Tuscaloosa and Elizabeth Wilson of Birmingham, Ala.; and a brother, Robert Wilson of Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Memorial services will be held at Virginia Beach United Methodist Church and also at Virginia Wesleyan College at dates to be announced later. Memorial donations may be made to Virginia Wesleyan College, 1584 Wesleyan Drive, Norfolk, Va. 23502 or to Virginia Beach United Methodist Church, Pacific Ave. at 19th St., Virginia Beach, Va. 23451. Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Lynnhaven Chapel, is handling arrangements. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY by CNB