Walter Roy Wilder passed away on Saturday, March 22, 2014 at the age of 87. He was born in New Albany, Mississippi on September 25, 1926. He is preceded in death by his parents, Mattie Whiteside Wilder and Reason Pink Wilder and his brother, Troy Franklin Wilder.
He is survived by his wife, Leila; daughters, Mary Lynn Hilson (Casey), Candis Mae Jolly (Mark); step-children, Anne Krantz (Bruce), Mary Kay Catchings (Wendell), Tricia Weissinger, and Allen Hollis; 10 grandchildren; and 3 great-grandchildren.
He was a veteran of World War II where he was stationed in Europe. He graduated from Mississippi College and joined Mississippi Valley Gas Co. in 1952 as a sales representative in Greenville and Belzoni. He also served as manager of the Grenada office, sales manager and marketing representative for the Jackson district before being promoted to Vice President of Public Relations and Governmental Affairs. He retired from MS Valley Gas Co. in 1991. During his career he was a member of the Public Relations Association of MS, the Capital City Kiwanis Club and the Board of Directors of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce, where he also served as Chairman of the Governmental Relations Committee.
He was a member of First Baptist Church of Jackson where he belonged to the Chapel Sunday School Class and the Tuesday Men’s Luncheon. He was a member of the Colonial Country Club where he enjoyed his Saturday morning tee time with his friends and he always looked forward to his morning and afternoon coffee clubs. Most of all he will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather and loyal friend to many.
Visitation will be held from 12-2 PM Tuesday, March 25, 2014 at First Baptist Church in Jackson. Funeral services will begin at 2 PM Tuesday at the church. Interment to follow at Lakewood Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to First Baptist Church of Jackson and to St. Jude Hospital at www.stjude.org.
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