John Dale Wilder, age 84, of Richardson, Texas, went to be with the Lord on June 9, 2017.
He was born August 29, 1932, in Winnfield, to John William Wilder and Laura (Strother) Wilder.
On July 7, 1962, John married Eulalie “Lee” Vitrano, in New Orleans. He proudly served his country in the United States Navy from September 1951, to September 1955, during the Korean War. John was a member of First Baptist Church in Richardson, Texas.
John was known by all who had the joy of spending time with him as a generous, servant-hearted man of the Lord. He graduated from Louisiana Tech with a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Secondary Education. He went on to receive a Master’s degree in Mathematics Education from Tulane University in 1966.
From 1967-1969, John worked as a computer programmer for Chrysler Corp. NASA Division. For the next twenty years, John worked for General Electric in their computer sales Petroleum Division. After retiring from a long and successful corporate career, John returned to what he enjoyed most, teaching. He invested in the lives of many youth, teaching math in an inner-city Dallas high school for seven years.
His love for teaching and his Savior led him to be a dedicated children’s leader through Bible Study Fellowship International for the next 18 years. John was also very active in his Bible Fellowship class at church, through which he volunteered as a Lunch Buddy Mentor with RISD.
John volunteered regularly at Grace Bridge Food Bank, helping serve those less fortunate. No drive was too far, math problem too hard, or need too small for John to help to the best of his ability. For this, he will be remembered and cherished.
Services were held at 2 p.m., Saturday, June 17, at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, TX with Dr. Ellis Orozco and Dr. Darold Morgan officiating.
Interment followed in Ridgeview Memorial Park.
John was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Grady Wilder Sr. and Leonard Wilder; and nephew, Grady Wilder Jr.
John is survived by his wife, Lee Wilder of Richardson, TX; children, Jennifer Wilder Heffley and husband Steve of Prosper, TX, and John D. Wilder II and wife Carolyn of Dallas, TX; grandchildren, Alyssa and Caitlin Heffley of Prosper, TX, Sidney Wilder of Austin, TX and Sarah Wilder of Dallas, TX; nieces, Diane Shields, Pam Tucker, Pat Peppers, Sandra Johnson, Sherry Wilder, Lori Lorman, and Lisa Vitrano; nephews, David Wilder and Douglas Vitrano; and a host of other loving family and friends.