Mr. William Raymond Wilder Jr.

Shortly before sunrise on December 6, 2023, W. Raymond Wilder, Jr. died and entered into God’s presence in the eternal place prepared for him. It was no surprise to him as the journey from this life to the heavenly home was much anticipated in his last days and weeks here with us. He lived and died as one called and ordained to serve the Christ through the ministry of the Methodist Church. He was born June 6, 1932 in Corvallis, Oregon. He is preceded in death by his parents, the Rev. W. Raymond and Marie Wilder, his wife of 59 years, Juanita Hale, and his daughter-in-law, Lynn Strickland. He is survived by a son, Bill Strickland (a retired United Methodist pastor) of Portal, Georgia, a daughter Annita Edgar and her husband, David (a retired United Methodist pastor) of Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas; four grandchildren, Jennifer Strickland, Leslie Thomas (Brent), Dee Edgar (Novi) and Marie Edgar. He is also survived by six great grandchildren, and his sister Charlenne Carl and her husband, Richard, of Atlanta, Georgia. There are also three wonderful caregivers whose love and service are remembered with gratitude: Diane Cross, Gwendolyn Terry, and Vonteresia Foster. Ray received his BA degree from Azusa Pacific College in California before coming to Georgia in 1956 where he began serving churches of the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church until he took disability due to failing eyesight in 1984 and retired in 1997. Two life events often talked about with appreciation was his infant baptism in Troy, Idaho by the very young Bishop Arthur J. Moore and his being received on trial into the South Georgia Conference in 1960 which was the last Conference session led by a then retiring Bishop Arthur J. Moore. He and his wife, Juanita, moved to Magnolia Manor in Americus, Georgia in 1991 where they lived until her death in 2020. Ray was blessed with many gifts for ministry. He loved preaching and studying the Scripture particularly Biblical prophecy. He was a servant of God with a kind and caring heart, he was devoted to the work of the church, but most of all he had a strong loving faith in Christ, and a confidence that as surely as Christ had come, He would come again. A favorite verse of Scripture which he carried in his heart was II Corinthians 5:15, “And he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him who died for them, and rose again.” A service celebrating his life and the life of his beloved wife who died during the hard days of covid will be held at 11:00 A.M on Tuesday, December 12, 2023 in the Martha McDonald Moore Memorial Chapel at Magnolia Manor. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the League of the Good Samaritan c/o Magnolia Manor 2001 South Lee Street Americus, GA 31709. The family will greet friends from 10:00 a.m. until service time Tuesday at the Martha McDonald Moore Memorial Chapel.

Mr. William Raymond Wilder Jr.

June 6, 1932 - December 6, 2023