Stephen A. Wilder

Stephen Ashley Wilder, age 78, of Durham, formerly of Raleigh and Knightdale, NC passed away on Tuesday, September 21, 2021. Steve was born in Wake County on November 4,1942, to the late Ashley Wilder and Lona May Eaddy Wilder. His father was a former Mayor of Knightdale, where Steve grew up.

He went to college at N.C. State and was a veteran of the U.S. Army. At one time he owned an employment agency, was in residential and commercial real estate agent and was a general manager for Caltone Paint.

Steve was a dyed-in-the-wool yellow dog Democrat and loved to entertain his friends with fabulous down home parties with great music and barbecuing a pig with and traditional southern side dishes. He loved good music, particularly the songs of Frank Sinatra and beach music. He was a great conversationalist and story teller and was known to embellish a personal story or two. Steve loved his bourbon with an unfiltered camel cigarette.

He is survived by his brothers, W. Barry Wilder of Knightdale and Landon Eaddy Wilder of High Point.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 12th from 6-8pm at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary’s Street, Raleigh, NC. There will be a private burial at the New Knightdale Baptist Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Steve's memory may be made to a charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.brownwynneraleigh.com for the Wilder family.