Charles Eugene "Charley" Gyder

Gyder, Charles "Charley" Eugene
77, of Sun City, Arizona went to be with the Lord on May 11th, 2011. Charley Gyder was born April 6th, 1934 in Franklin, PA to Ruth and Charles Gyder to become the youngest of three children. Charley began attending Penn State University in 1952 with the ROTC program and graduated in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. In 1954, while at Penn State, Charley married his high school sweetheart, Mary Jane Widel. After graduating, Charley joined the Navy as a officer and became an aviator serving aboard the USS Ranger. He left active duty in 1963 and continued for three more years in the Naval Reserve. From 1975-85 he served in the Air National Guard, retiring in 1985 as a Major. Charley joined Mobile Oil in 1963 and spent 10 years in management before moving his family to Arizona to join Arizona Public Service (APS) in 1973. Charley had a mind for business and in 1979 he purchased Wilhelm Garage in Peoria, AZ. Charley took a small automotive repair and welding shop and turned it into a thriving automotive repair and service center. Wilhelm Automotive now has 5 locations in the Phoenix area. He was active on the National Board of Directors for both the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and the Automotive Service Association (ASA) promoting the welfare of independent repair shops and training for automotive technicians. Charley loved Peoria and was constantly looking for ways to improve the lives of those living there. Charley and Mary Jane were instrumental in the campaign to raise funds to build a new Performing Arts Center to house Theater Works, in downtown Peoria. He was an enthusiastic philanthropist and shared his passion for business and the community as an active member in Shiners, Rotary, Elks, Lions and Theater Works. In 2003, Charley lost his bride of 49 years, Mary Jane . To honor Mary Jane, the Main Stage Theater at Theater Works was dedicated to her for the work they did to bring Performing Arts and Culture to Peoria. In 2004, Charley met and married Edna Garrett. Soon after, they began to share their time between the warm winters of Sun City, AZ and the cool summers of Blackfoot, ID. Charley had many interests and friends. He enjoyed golfing as often as he could and traveling to known and many unknown locations. Charley stayed extremely active in the community, loved his family and friends, and passed-on doing one of the things he loved most, playing golf. Charley is survived by his wife Edna Garrett-Gyder, his five sons; Gary, Greg, Thom, Chuck and Doug, his brother Paul Gyder, sister Joann Stewart, four stepsons, 24 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren. A memorial service and celebration of life will be held May 17th at the Willowbrook United Methodist Church at 3:00 pm. Refreshments will be served following the service. In lieu of flowers please send memorial donations to Theater Works, Peoria Az in Charles Gyder name.