Margaret Ruth King Wilson

Margaret Ruth King Wilson passed away on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community. A graveside service will be held in Greenlawn Memorial Park, 845 Leesburg Road, Columbia, on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 11:00 AM, with a visitation reception to follow. A Requiem Mass in Margaret’s memory will be held at St. Michael and All Angels’ Episcopal Church Chapel, 6408 Bridgewood Road, Columbia, on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at 5:30 PM.

Margaret was born in Columbia, South Carolina, to Charles Wyatt and Ruth Myers King on January 9, 1937. Shortly after her birth, the family moved to Kingstree, SC, to be near her father’s two sisters who owned and operated the Kingstree Hotel. After their home in Kingstree burned, they returned to Columbia where Margaret began grammar school at St. Peter’s Parochial School. After grammar school, Margaret attended Columbia City schools and graduated from the historic Columbia High School, Class of 1955. She later attended evening adult classes at the University of South Carolina.

During her high school days, Margaret met the love of her life, Fennial D. (F.D.) Wilson. After five years of courtship, Margaret and F.D. were married at Main Street United Methodist Church on October 5, 1957. In 1990, they left their beloved home church to become members at St. Michael and All Angels’ Episcopal Church. From the beginning, their church was the center of their lives. Their social life was primarily over the bridge table where they made life-long and endearing friends. They also loved music, dancing, and partying with their friends and cohorts over the years.

In the early days, most of their vacations were spent at the South Carolina Coast or in the North Carolina Mountains. When they learned there were other places to see and visit, they made many destination trips to San Antonio, Texas, where they visited Margaret’s half-sister. They enjoyed several cruises, including to Alaska and on the Baltic Sea, and explored California, Canada, England, Scotland, Wales, Nova Scotia, and Spain. Margaret was predeceased by her husband shortly before their 56th wedding anniversary in 2013.

Margaret retired from the Internal Revenue Service after 38 years of loyal and dedicated service. She received numerous awards over her career. One award that was special to her was being named the 1985 “Federal Employee of the Year” by the Greater Columbia Federal Executive Council. And, on the day of her retirement, her name was read into the Congressional Record by Senator Ernest F. Hollings for her professional service to his office over the years.

Margaret loved her native Columbia and enjoyed being a docent at Historic Columbia Foundation for nine years, resigning only after the decline of her husband’s health.

In addition to her husband, Margaret was predeceased by her parents and her half-sister, Hertieline King Waller. She is survived by her family of cousins across the country whom she rarely saw but dearly loved and communicated with often, and numerous friends who were like family to Margaret.

Margaret’s friends and family would like to express gratitude to the staff at Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community, where Margaret lived in independent living before moving to River Banks Assisted Living and then to Jane Bruce Guignard Skilled Nursing. The Still Hopes community at all levels of care treated Margaret with love, compassion, and attention that greatly enhanced her quality of life. We also thank the wonderful staff of Solutions for Living at Home and Prisma Hospice for the loving care, support, and comfort they provided to Margaret.

Anyone wishing to make a memorial in Margaret’s memory, please know it will be appreciated by the charity of your choice; or St. Michael and All Angels’ Episcopal Church Endowment Fund (6408 Bridgewood Road, Columbia, SC 29206); or Main Street United Methodist Church (1830 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201); or Historic Columbia (1601 Richland Street, Columbia, SC 29201).