Carolyn Wilson Gaston, age 90, passed away peacefully on April 15, 2018 on the farm where she was raised in Shelby, NC. She was born in Akron, Ohio on March 10, 1928. Carolyn grew up in Shelby and graduated from Shelby High School in 1945. After graduating from Converse College (class of 1949), she married Mason Gaston and they lived in the low country of SC for a few years before returning to Shelby.
Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, Alice and Hackett C. Wilson; her husband, Mason Gaston, and her sister, Marjorie Senn.
She is survived by her 3 children, John Gaston, Julia Nicopoulos (Dr. C.V. Nicopoulos) of Shelby, and Jim Gaston (Jo-C Gaston) of Durham; her 3 grandchildren, Jamie Gaston of Durham, A.J. Nicopoulos, and Dr. Kassi Nicopoulos (Daniel Smith) of Shelby; and her 2 nieces, Caroline Umberger (Charles Umberger) of Charlotte and Cathy Garrett (Henry Garrett) of Winston-Salem, NC.
For more than 50 years Carolyn was an active member of the Shelby Presbyterian Church, the Literario Book Club, and the Cecilia Music Club. Music was always an important part of her life. She, herself, was an accomplished pianist. From Sergei Rachmaninoff's "Piano Concerto No 2" (a piece Carolyn performed at her senior recital at Converse College) to Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's ukulele piece "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (that became our theme song years ago during a family adventure on a houseboat at Cape Lookout, NC), she enjoyed it all. Eight years ago she began taking ballroom dancing lessons and she loved every minute of it. She performed with the dance troupe from Rutherfordton many times, with vignettes from "Hello Dolly," "Mame," and "New York, New York."
Traveling was something she also enjoyed, whether it be planes, trains, automobiles or anything in between. She was always telling her friends and family about her trips to Blowing Rock with the "girls" (her local partners in crime), bus trips with friends, strolling the Champs-Elysees, rafting on the Colorado River, and hot air ballooning over the Outback in Australia. Carolyn even got a surprise on her 80th birthday with a family trip in a RV (with slide outs) to Panama City, Florida.
But most important to her, above all else, were her family and friends. Her grandchildren, definitely, were the twinkle in her eyes. She will be missed and remembered with love and affection.
A memorial service will be held at 3:00PM on Sunday, April 22, 2018 in the sanctuary of the Shelby Presbyterian Church, officiated by the Dr. Luke Harkey. The family will receive friends following the service in the Fellowship Hall. A private burial will be at Nazareth Presbyterian Church in Moore, SC.
In lieu of flowers the family requests a donation in memory of Carolyn W. Gaston be made to the Cecilia Music Club Scholarship Fund, c/o Jean Canipe, Treasurer, 316-4 Lamar Avenue, Shelby, NC 28150.
Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family of Mrs. Gaston.
Guest Registry is available at www.cecilmburtonfuneralhome.com |
