Gary Shelden Wilson

Gary Shelden Wilson, 69, died at home Monday after an extended illness. He was borneebruary 17, 1940 in Spokane, WA, the first child of the late Helen and Kenneth Wilson. Gary finished high school ineeattle and graduated from Washington State Uneersity in 1962. He spent two years as a Lieutenant in the US Army, serving in Korea. Gary received the MBA degree from Wharton School of Business in 1966. He began his career ineew York City with McKinsey & Co. and remained for 3 years, after which he joined USAA in San Antonio, 1969-1973. Gary retired in 1996 from Blue Cross & Blue Shield in Chapel Hill as Senior Vice President, Administrative Services, where he spent 21 years. An active community leader and voluneer, Gary served on the boards of Durham County Hospital Corp., where he was Treasurer and member of the Executive Committee; Duke Uneersity Health System; Lincoln Community Health Center and HMO of North Carolina. A devotee of music, Gary was also President and board member of the Raleigh Chamber Music Guild. He was a member of Hope Valley Country Club, where he played golf almost daily with his beloved Varsity Group. Gary Wilson was a genuine Renaissance man. A voracious reader and masterful writer, he had extraordinary command of the English language. In addition to golf, his great loves included music, art, wine, dancing and watching sports, especially basketball. Gary's terrific sense of humor was legendary along with his unforgettable, robust laugh. Surviving are his wife, Lois M. Wilson; his "favorite" daughter, Christine Love Mendoza and husband, Jonathan of Austin, TX; granddaughter, Emma Love Mendoza; his siblings; David F. Sandra Wilson of Orcas Island, WA, Dan Wilson of Seattle, and "favorite" sister, Jan Steve Rosenlund of Bellevue, WA; and step-sons, John Wysocki, Jr. and Mark Lisa Wysocki; and their twin sons, Aidan and Ryan. A memorial celebration will be held 3:00 PM Sunday at Hope Valley Country Club. The family will receive guests after the service until 5:30. Donations in Gary's memory may be made to Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center, www.cancer.duke.edu or to Raleigh Chamber Music Guild, www.rcmg.org. Arrangements are with Hall-Wynne Funeral Service. For on-line memorials, www.hallwynne.com Select Obituaries.