LESTER L. WILDER, 77 of Montpelier died unexpectedly Sunday evening at the Community Hospitals and Wellness Centers in the Montpelier emergency room. He was born November 8, 1935 in Sylvania, Ohio to Leo J. and Florence M. (Clark) Wilder. Lester was a 1953 graduate of Montpelier High School. On February 12, 1960 in Montpelier he married Audrey M. Rittenhouse and she survives.
Mr. Wilder was a member of the Church of Christ in Montpelier and West Unity. He had been head of the youth group in the Montpelier church and had also served on various church boards. He retired from Ingersol-Rand/Aro in Bryan in 1997 after 36 years as a machinist.
In addition to his wife Audrey, Lester is survived by one daughter: Linda (Jeff) Miller of Charlotte, North Carolina; three sons: Steve (Sue) Wilder of Ashland, Ohio, Donald W. Wilder of Nova, Ohio and John (Tracey) Wilder of Whitehouse, Ohio; 13 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Also two brothers: Jim Wilder of Montpelier, Richard (Betty) Wilder of Lansing, Michigan; two sisters: Emily (Morris) Cogswell of Bryan and Etta Dyson, Camden, Michigan.
He was preceeded in death by his parents, one son: Lester Eugene Wilder in 1960 and one sister: Marian Coon.
Visitation and funeral services for Mr. Wilder will be privately held Friday afternoon in the Wilson-Geesey Funeral Home with Pastor Jim Plattner and Bruce Goosman to officiate. Burial will follow in the Shiffler Cemetery. Preferred memorials are to the National Diabetes Foundation. Condolences may be made online at wilsongeeseyfuneralhome.com
