Harold Wild

Harold Wild MILLERSVILLE Harold Wild, 88, passed away Monday, August 31, 2009, at Susquehanna Valley Nursing and Rehab Center. He was married for 61 years to Evelyn (Spitler) Wild of Millersville. Harold retired in 1980 from the Penn Manor School District as the Director of Music, K-12. Formerly, he was the high school band director and instrumental music teacher in the Penn Manor School District. His teaching career began in 1947 in the Greene-Dreher School District in the Poconos, Newfoundland, Pa. Harold played the French horn in the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra. In high school, he played the French horn with the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, and also while attending Lebanon Valley College. In 1937, he was the state champion in French horn solo competition and the winner of second division on the national level, while attending Cornwall High School. Harold graduated from Lebanon Valley College with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education and from Columbia University with a Master's Degree in Music Education. He also continued his advanced studies in music at Temple and Penn State Universities. During WWII, he was in the Pacific for two ½ years with the 7th Evacuation Hospital, U.S. Army. He served on the Islands of New Caledonia, Fiji, Guadalcanal, New Britain, Luzon, and Japan. He was in the invasion of Luzon at Lingayun Gulf and among the first troops to land in Japan in the Army of occupation. He was awarded four bronze stars. Harold was born in Moor Row, Cumbria, England, the son of the late James Joseph and Mary James Wild. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, James Alan Wild, husband of Katherine of Stewartstown; two grandchildren, Jeffrey Harold, husband of Lindy of Lebanon, and Wendy Elizabeth Wild of Middletown. He is also survived by a sister, Margaret, wife of Franklin E. Dechert of Lebanon. He was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Treist, who died in 2007. Harold was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Millersville, where he was the senior choir director for 23 years, with his wife serving as the church organist. He was also a Sunday School teacher at St. Paul and served on various church committees, notably, as chairman of the furnishings committee for the new church in 1973. Harold was a member of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees, and VFW Millersville Post #7294. Harold enjoyed playing golf and swimming. He was an avid Philadelphia Phillies and Eagles fan. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral service from St. Paul Lutheran Church, 222 N. George St., Millersville, PA 17551, on Friday at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Dr. Bruton Parry officiating. Visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 to 10 a.m. Interment will take place from Cornwall Methodist Cemetery with military honors. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Harold's memory to St. Paul Lutheran Church; or to Hospice of Lancaster County 685 Good Drive P.O. Box 4125 Lancaster, PA 17604. Arrangements made by Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home, 872-5041, Millersville. To send the family online condolences please visit snyderfuneralhome.com