Mr. Raymond H. Wilber

Raymond H. Wilber, 94, of Wilmington, DE, died quietly on June 12, 2017 at Methodist Country House, Wilmington, DE. He was a resident of the Methodist Country House for the last 14 years. He was born in Hannibal, MO to the late Raymond and Anna Wilber. He attended Hannibal La Grange College and the University of Missouri College of Engineering where he received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering in June 1944. He worked summers at his father's business McNally Pump & Plumbing Supply Co. and Wendt-Sonis Tool Co. in Hannibal, MO. Finishing his course work early, he joined the Engineering Department of the DuPont Co. in Wilmington, DE in January 1944. Shortly there after he received an Ensigns commission in the U.S. Navy. After training at Princeton University, Line Officers School in Florida, and Chemical Warfare School at Edgewood Arsenal in Maryland he was ordered to the Battleship Alabama in the Pacific. He served in the 3Rd and 5th fleets in the battle for Okinawa and the occupation of Japan. He returned to DuPont and worked as an engineering manager, retiring in 1980. Mr. Wilber was a member of the Peninsula-McCabe United Methodist Church and for 10 years a lay member of the Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conference. He was Emeritus member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and former member of the American Society of Engineering Education. He was a registered Professional Engineer in Delaware. He was a long time member of the Wilmington Power Squadron, and Ray and his wife Mary enjoyed cruising the Chesapeake Bay and rivers with family and friends. He was an avid tennis player at the DuPont Country Club, and enjoyed travel, photography and birding. Ray was also a member of the Hockessin-Greenville Rotary Club and the University of Delaware Academy of Life Long Learning. Most of all he enjoyed being with family and friends. He is survived by his best friend and wife Mary of 72 years who he met in the first grade at Mark Twain School, and his loving son David R. Wilber of Wilmington, wonderful daughter Betty and her fine husband William D. Luzier of Glen Mills, PA and beloved granddaughters Julie and Shannon Luzier. Services will be held on Thursday June 22, 2017 at 11 am from the Peninsula-McCabe United Methodist Church, 2200 Baynard Blvd., Wilmington, DE. Visitation will be at the church from 10-11 am. Burial will follow at Chester Bethel Cemetery, Foulk Road, Wilmington, DE.