Wilma Louise Morrison King, 90

Wilma Louise Morrison King, 90, of Hendersonville passed away at the Elizabeth House on Wednesday July 16, 2014, after a brief illness.

Born in Polk County, she lived in Henderson County for most of her life. She was preceded in death by her parents, David S. and Louise Pace Morrison, a brother Austin Morrison and her husband Joe Daniel King.

A 1941 graduate of Edneyville High School, she earned a bachelor's degree in home economics from Women's College (now University of North Carolina - Greensboro) in 1945. She was awarded a masters degree in education from Western Carolina University in 1976 and was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, the international honorary educational society which promotes education excellence and professional growth of women educators.

Wilma taught school for 25 years, retiring from the Hendersonville City School system where she spent the majority of her career as a math teacher at Hendersonville Junior High School. A dedicated and innovative teacher, she was named teacher of the year by the city school system unit of the Association of Classroom Teachers in 1979. She also served as president of the city North Carolina Education Association.

When her husband J.D. became ill in 1984 she retired from teaching to take an active role in the operation of King Hardware, assisting her son Joe in the reorganization of the company as an equipment rental business. In 1989, she was appointed by the governor to a four year term as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Teachers and State Employees Retirement System. Based on her achievements as an outstanding educator, business woman and citizen, she was named one of the top 50 community leaders of Henderson County by WHKP in 1996.

She is survived by a son, Joe D. King of Hendersonville; a daughter, Kathryn E. King and granddaughter, Kristen R. Morgan of Chapel Hill, NC; and a nephew, Samuel T. Wyrick of Cary, NC.

A service celebrating Wilma's life will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014, at Refuge Baptist Church, 30 Oleta Road in Dana. The family will host a visitation immediately following the service in the church's Family Life Center at 27 Oleta Road (across the street from the church).

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Wilma M. King Memorial Fund at the Community Foundation of Henderson County, PO Box 1108, Hendersonville NC 28792.

Condolence cards may be sent to the family at www.jacksonfuneralservice.com or to PO Box 945, Hendersonville, NC 28793.