Wilma K. Steele

Wake Forest resident   

Wilma Pinkerton Steele, 75, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012 at home surrounded by her family. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012 at Wake Forest Presbyterian Church followed by a reception in the Christian Life Center. The remains will be scattered in the Memorial Garden at Howard Memorial Presbyterian Church in Tarboro, later the same day.  The family will be at home during other times. Wilma is survived by her husband, Donald G. Steele; daughter, Cheri Stalls and husband, Lloyd, of Wilmington; son, Greg Steele and wife, Jane, of Greenville; grandchildren, Charli and Maggie Stalls and Matt, Emily and Drew Steele; brothers, Dennis and wife, Sally Pinkerton, of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. and Hank and wife, Celeste Pinkerton, of Bayville, N.Y.; step-mother, Fran Pinkerton of Oyster Bay, N.Y.; many nieces and nephews and her loving dog, Sophie. Wilma was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to the late Harry and Dorothy Pinkerton on Oct. 2, 1937. She graduated from high school in Oyster Bay, N.Y. and earned a degree in education from the University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y. She taught school until her children were born and was very active in church and civic organizations in each of the communities that she and Don lived during their nearly 53 years of marriage. These activities included volunteering with the March of Dimes & local hospital auxiliaries; leadership positions with the Girl & Boy Scouts; being the first female to serve on the Camden County Board of Education, serving as a Guardian ad Litem in Wake County and serving as a Deacon and Elder in the various Presbyterian Churches they attended.  Wilma was honored to serve as a delegate to the General Assembly of PCUSA and served New Hope Presbytery for a number of years on the Preparation for Ministry Committee and also served on the Board of Regents of the Barium Springs Home for Children.  She was one of the founders of the Wake Forest Presbyterian Church JOY (Just Older Youth) Group and she will be missed for her energy and leadership in all of her endeavors.      The family would like to thank long-time friend and family physician Dr. Thomas Weber, as well as Dr. Roy Cromartie and the staff at the Cancer Centers of North Carolina. They are also most grateful for the friendship, love and assistance shown to Wilma by Always Best Care Senior Services during these last 6 months as well as love and support from their Wake Forest Presbyterian Church family.   Memorial contributions may be made to Wake Forest Presbyterian Church, 12605 Capital Blvd, Wake Forest 27587, Howard Memorial Presbyterian Church, 303 East Saint James St, Tarboro, NC 27886 or Hospice of Wake County, Inc., 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607. A service of Bright Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 405 S. Main St., Wake Forest. (919-556-5811) www.brightfunerals.com.