Jun 9, 2013 4 min read

The candy bowls in Peg Wilson’s Victorian-style home are always filled with M&Ms and assorted sweet treats.

The candy serves two purposes: Wilson, a gracious host, likes to offer snacks to visitors. But she also has a sweet tooth and leaves the candy out to test her willpower.

Candy is one of the few things Wilson can say no to.

Throughout her life, Wilson, 83, has dedicated countless hours to volunteering, from her work with Cribs for Kids, the United Cerebral Palsy Association – one of her daughters has cerebral palsy – to the Washington County Democratic Committee and Greater Washington County Food Bank, where she serves as president.

“I’m a pushover. I think we’re here to help others and when someone asks me for help, I can’t say no,” said Wilson, of Washington.

She has four grown children and she volunteered with many of the clubs and activities in which they participated as kids, including Girl Scouts and cheerleading. She jokes that she still makes a great hoagie, a sandwich she perfected during her years with the Washington High School Band Aids, a booster organization for the band, where her daughters were majorettes.

“My family always comes first. I liked to be involved with my children and whatever activities they were involved in,” said Wilson, who has eight grandchildren and one great-grandson. She and her husband, George, who died 10 years ago, were married for 51 years.

Wilson stayed at home when her children were small, but when they went to grade school she returned to work at Washington Hospital’s medical records department and switchboard. Over the next nearly three decades, she worked for Washington County, first in the adult probation office, then the tax claim bureau before she retired.

She inherited her interest in politics from her mother, who was an active political volunteer. Wilson serves on the executive board of the Democratic Committee, is on the state committee and volunteers with campaigns for local and state political candidates.

Said Washington Mayor Brenda Davis, a friend of Wilson’s, “Peg is a role model and an inspiration for women. She has continued to have an impact on the community.”

Right now, Wilson’s most time-consuming endeavor is working to help build a new facility for the Greater Washington County Food Bank, which collects, stores and distributes grocery items to low-income families in Washington County through its 38 pantries. The food bank currently serves about 4,800 households and has outgrown its building in North Strabane Township.

“I’d like to see us complete the new building during my tenure. The one we’re in isn’t sufficient or big enough,” said Wilson. “A lot of people are too proud to ask for help, but that’s why the pantry is here. A lot of people lose their jobs or they get older and they need it,” said Wilson. “There but for the grace of God go all of us. We could need it someday.”

Wilson, who suffers from glaucoma and is blind in one eye, has never driven a car. Wilson’s husband tried to teach her to drive, but while she was learning, her daughter, 2 ½ years old at the time, was hit by a young driver who saw the little girl near the road in front of her house and hit the gas pedal instead of the brake. She suffered a fractured skull but recovered, and Wilson vowed never to drive.

“It’s a good thing I have great friends or I’d have to sit in the house all day,” she laughed.

On Election Night in May, Wilson suffered a mini-stroke, but doctors told her she dodged a bullet and will fully recover.

She doesn’t plan to slow down.

“I love life. My health’s very good for my age and I have no complaints,” said Wilson. “My philosophy is you have to be a friend to have a friend. I’ve had an interesting life. I’ve stayed busy. I intend to stay busy as long as the good Lord lets me.”