Gloria M. Wilson

Gloria M. Wilson, age 94, departed this life on May 13, 2025. She was born on November 20, 1930, in Sturgis, KY, to Pauline and Tarvin Shelton. She moved to Fort Wayne in 1961. She was a 1953 graduate of Kentucky State University, where she pledged to the Beta Zeta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in 1952 (73 years ago). She is also a charter member of the Iota Chi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in Fort Wayne, IN, established in 1973.

Gloria was Associate Director of Child Care of Allen County for 30+ years, retiring in 1992. She was an advocate for ALL children and never hesitated to step in if she thought a child was in danger.

She was an original member of the Panel of American Women and a member of Cosmopolites Business and Professional Women’s Club. She also volunteered for SCAN, American Red Cross, Ronald McDonald House and Parkview Hospice. She served on the Concordia Gardens board of directors for many years, delivering newsletters and collecting dues. She sang with the Chapelairs while a member of Turner Chapel AME Church, and later became an active member of Faith United Methodist Church as long as she was physically able. She loved celebrating family birthdays and holidays and loved all things chocolate.

She is survived by daughters, Kathy Gaines, Karen Knox (Ronnie), and Christy Brown; grandchildren, Kasey Carr, Arin Knox Hodges, Andrew Knox, Kyndal Mitchell (Walter), Jordan Harvey, Austin Knox, Chyenne Wilson and Vincent Harris; 12 great-grandchildren; and she is also survived by several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Pauline and Tarvin Shelton; husband, Carl Wilson; daughter, Carla Wilson; siblings, LaChester Shelton, Segue (SJ) Shelton, Marian Johnson, Douglas Shelton and Elaine Rencher.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 pm on Friday, May 23, 2025, at Fellowship Missionary Church, 2536 East Tillman Road, Fort Wayne, IN with visitation two hours prior. Private Committal and Burial at Covington Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Blessings in a Backpack, 111 E. Wayne Street, Ste. 555, Fort Wayne, IN 46802, blessingsindiana.org.