Michael Alan Wilder was born on August 1, 1946. A lifelong resident of Baytown, Texas, Michael passed peacefully Friday, March 9, 2018 at MD Anderson in Houston. Michael was an only child of Leonard and Betty Wilder of Baytown. He graduated Robert E. Lee High School Class of 1964 and attended Lee College prior to enlisting in the military. Michael was a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy and spent several years honorably serving aboard the USS Thomas A. Edison (SSBN-610) from 1967-71. Michael settled down with his wife of 50 years, Sharon Turnbull Wilder, in Baytown where they raised their three girls: Caprica, Lara, and Jinny. Michael worked for Houston Lighting & Power for several years prior to starting his career at Exxon, where he worked for over 25 years before he retired.
He was a member of the United States Submarine Veterans and the ExxonMobil Retiree Club of Baytown. Michael was an avid reader and a history buff. In his younger years, he enjoyed travels with his family and had a passion for teaching his children about the social and historical importance of various landmarks. Michael also had a broad and eclectic taste in music, and he passed this along to his daughters as well.
Michael is preceded in death by his parents, Leonard Wilder and Betty Enochs Wilder, his grandparents, and multiple aunts and uncles
He is survived by his loving wife, Sharon Turnbull Wilder, his children, Lara Kay Wilder, Ashley Whisenant Wilder, Virginia (Jinny) Jean Wilder, and Caprica Ann Turnbull Neal, and his two granddaughters, Olivia Lynn Neal and Stella Pearl Gregory-Wilder. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Bettie Turnbull, and his aunts, Joan Levins and Alice Wilder, as well as multiple cousins, brothers and sisters in-law, and several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to cancer research.
Please join the family in a celebration of Michael’s life. There will be a visitation in the family center of Crespo & Jirrels located at 6123 Garth Road in Baytown on Saturday, March 24, 2018, from 5-7 PM.
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