Harold Wilder

Harold Wilder was born in Magdalena, New Mexico on March 13, 1927 to Frank and Louie Wilder. He passed away peacefully with a caring nurse by his side on August 21, 2013 at the Good Samaritan Care Facility.

He spent his childhood moving around New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada till moving to Yakima. There he attended Selah High School and graduated in 1945. During his school years he enjoyed both drama and playing clarinet in the band. Right out of high school he was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent to Germany. There he served from 1945 to 1947. After coming home he attended Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon. He was a member of the OMEGA DELTA PHI fraternity graduating in 1951 with a CPA business degree.

After school he came back to Yakima where he began attending the First Baptist Church and met Viola Kotlan. They were married July 10, 1955 at the First Baptist Church. He continued in drama, taught Sunday School, did a bus ministry and was a lay pastor and deacon.

Together they had three children, Linda Page (Stan) of Creswell, OR, Jerry (Amy) & Steve Wilder of Yakima; three grandchildren, Jeremie, Drason & Brock Wilder; two great grandchildren, Kayden & Keegan; a close cousin, Mary Bond of Yakima and many other cousins.

Harold began as an accountant at both Forney Freight & H R Spinners. Later went into business on his own with, laundrymats & rentals. He kept busy with that up until the last 5 years. He did take time to enjoy his Gideon Ministry, BSF bible study group, going to church, pot lucks and tending his roses.

In his last days as hard as it was for mom and I, he seemed to enjoy all the kind nurses who took care of him. We thank you for being so good to him it made his stay easier for all of us.

Visitation will be 4:00 – 8:00 pm Friday, September 6, 2013 at Keith & Keith Funeral Home. A Graveside Service will be 10:00 am Saturday, September 7th at West Hills Memorial Park. A celebration of Life will follow at 11:30 am at the First Baptist Church. To share a memory of Harold, visit www.keithandkeith.com.