Dr. Doris Dickens Hoye Wilson, 95, of Halifax, NC, passed away Monday, October 26, 2015, at Fountains of The Albermarle in Tarboro, NC.
Dr. Wilson joined the Womens Army Corps (WAC) in 1942.
She was among the first group of women to attend Officers Candidate School and was commissioned a 2nd Lt. on May 23, 1943 at Ft. Des Moines, IA.
She served her country until 1945 when she was honorably discharged with the rank of Captain, WAC, Air Transport Command.
After completing her Bachelor's and Master's degrees at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL, she received her Ph.D in Child Development and Family Relations from the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, NC.
She retired from Bradley University in Peoria, IL as a Professor Emeritus after 21 years of teaching to come home to North Carolina.
She was very active in the community.
Among other things, she was a founder and President Emeritus of the Order of First Families of North Carolina, Past Regent of the Elizabeth Montfort Ash Chapter of the DAR, Past President of the Military Officers Association, and past Curator of the Halifax County Agricultural Museum.
She was also a member in the Halifax County Genealogical Society, Halifax County Friends of the Library, Halifax County Restoration Association, Colonial Dames of America, The Jamestowne Association, The Henry Lee Society, and Women in Military Service.
Dr. Wilson is survived by her daughters, Deborah Dickens Hoye Villers (Gaylord) of Barrington, IL, Stephanie Anne Hoye of Bothell, WA, Teresa Burchette Hoye Doolittle (Robert) of Lake Forest Park, WA, a sister, Rosa Mae Phillips (Gerald) of Morehead City, NC; five grandchildren: Ned (Kirsten), Kate, and Preston Villers, and Mary Alice and Marc Doolittle; three great-grandchildren: Theo, Wyatt and Cora Villers; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Dr. Wilson was preceded in death by her brother, J.D. Dickens, Jr., and sisters Frances Dickens Dane, Mamie Lee Harvill, Ann Dickens Kaasmann, Susan Dickens Baumgartner, and Grace Dickens Ewing.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, November 7 at 1:00 p.m. at Massey Funeral Home in Roanoke Rapids.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.haroldmasseyfuneralhome.com