Terry Wilder

Terry Vaughn Wilder, 68, passed away surrounded by his family on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, at home in Tyler, Texas. He was born on May 17, 1955, in Tyler, Texas, to the late Joseph Vaughn and Verbia Kinsey Wilder, and was the eldest of three children. He graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1973, then attended the University of Texas in Austin as a business major. After one semester of college Terry longed to be with his high school sweetheart, Molly O’Neal who was attending her first semester of college at Baylor University. After accepting his proposal in December of 1973, the pair moved back to Tyler and received their bachelor’s degrees at the University of Texas in Tyler.

Terry’s passion for hot rods began in his formative years when his father, uncles and grandparents owned the I-20 Race Track drag strip and began several Muffler & Custom Shop’s located in Tyler and Longview. After graduating college Terry utilized his talent and love of working on cars and joined his family in the automotive repair industry later becoming the owner of Muffler & Custom Shop in downtown Tyler in the early 1980’s. After almost 20 years of hard work and dedication, Terry sold his business and retired in 1999. Throughout his retirement he worked several odd jobs to keep busy including working for 2-years as a maintenance man for a local extended-stay hotel. In his retirement, he found a love for mathematics and was encouraged by Molly to join her in her career in education. He thrived for several years as a long-term substitute teacher in the mathematics department of John Tyler High School alongside his wife.

Terry married the love of his life, on July 23, 1977, at First Baptist Church in Tyler and they recently celebrated 46 years of marriage. He is survived by his wife Molly Wilder of Tyler; daughter Emily Wilder Goldwater of Tyler; son James Wilder and wife Lindsey of Tyler; grandson Hunter Franks and wife Jaylee of Tyler; granddaughter Kathryn Goldwater of Tyler; grandson Cooper Wilder of Tyler; granddaughter Andie Leigh Wilder of Tyler; great-grandson Beckham David Franks of Tyler; sister Carolyn Lovelady and husband Daniel of Jacksonville; brother John Wilder and wife Kathy of Lindale; uncle James P. (Jack) Kinsey of Tyler; uncle Harold Wilder and wife JoAnn of Tyler; as well as a host of cousins in Texas and Louisiana.

Terry was preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Verbia Wilder of Tyler; grandparents Hermouth and Marjorie Wilder of Tyler; grandparents Henry and Ballie Kinsey of Tyler; as well as a host of aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Visitation will be held at Lloyd James Funeral Home for Friday, January 5, 2024, from 6:00-8:00pm.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Graveside Service at Cathedral in the Pines Cemetery on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at 1:30pm with Rev. Pike Wisner officiating.

Pallbearers are Steve Williams, Ernie Negem, Richard Kesecker, Rickey Kinsey, Loyd Hendrick, Marshall Ivy, and Steve Maynard.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Cancer Research Hospital.