Gary J. Wilds

1944 - 2020

BORN

1944

DIED

2020

About

University of California| Berkeley

Gary Wilds Obituary

Gary J. Wilds
June 15, 1944 - Nov. 30, 2020
Resident of Roseville, CA
Gary passed away unexpectedly on November 30,2020. Born to Victor and Adelyn Wilds in Berkeley, CA, Gary was raised in Richmond, CA. He served in the US Army doing basic training at Fort Ord and Signal School at Fort Gordon in the mid 60's.
Gary attended UC Berkeley and had a long 40+ year career with Safeway, working at numerous stores throughout the East Bay and Sacramento.
Gary retired in 2011. He enjoyed frequent trips to Europe and Maui, reading, working in the yard and daily walks with his fellow retired neighbors. Gary was an avid connoisseur of wine, loved dining well and enjoyed keeping up with the latest technology. France, and in particular the Cote d'Azur, was one of his favorite vacation destinations, as was Kaanapali Beach in Maui.
Like his parents who were married 60+ years, Gary is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Marilyn, his sisters Vicki Lyn Christophe and Pamela Gayle Keigley, nieces Nicole Wilson and Andrita Jude Andreas and nephews Steven Christophe and Troy Nocon.
No service to be held at this time.

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Published by East Bay Times on Jan. 31, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Gary Wilds

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2 Entries

Pam Keigley

Planted Trees

Pamela Keigley

January 31, 2021

My dear brother, Gary. We may have been over 3,000 miles away but you were always in my thoughts. Your life was cut short and I’m still having a difficult time believing you are actually gone. I wouldn’t have wanted another brother; you were perfect in my eyes. For those reading through these Memories and Condolences, let me tell you a little bit about my brother.

Gary was the eldest of three children, I was the middle child and Vicki was the youngest. Gary was a good child; respectful, kind, genuine and mature beyond his years. He made friendships with a small group of boys that lasted from elementary school through young adulthood. He was a Cub Scout and Mom was a Den Mother. Through the scouts he learned a lot about nature and self sufficiency.

Gary protected us girls. I was always doing something I shouldn’t and he’d try to set me on the straight and narrow but when I didn’t listen, he was fast at getting Mom. I learned that there was no sneaking around getting into things I shouldn’t with Gary around. In my teen years, one of his friends wanted to take me out on a date. Finally Gary agreed to let us go out together. We were late getting home as his friend ran out of gas. I don’t think Gary ever believed the friend nor I but we truly did run out of gas.

We grew up in a fairly safe world, when no one locked their house and kids could play until dark. And did we play. Gary build a fort with the neighbor boys and also an underground bunker. At night we’d play Kick-the-Can in the middle of the street without anyone complaining.

For the first ten years of his life, every summer we went camping at Yosemite. My Dad had the best campsite with all the comforts of home. You wouldn’t believe it, a medicine chest and shaving station that could be fastened to a tree, special grids for the fire pits so Mom could make superb meals and kitchen counter with bins and drains for washing dishes. And a wash tub...yes, we still took daily baths. I wish I had pictures to share. But back to Gary... As we walked the trails, Gary would stop and show us girls every bug he could identify, whether rocks were granite or quartz and any creepy critter we came across. I loved it; Vicki not so much.

When Gary was 11, we started going to a cabin in Truckee that a friend of our father’s owned called Jack’s Half Shack. I have found memories of our summer vacations there too but the last time we went, Mom and Dad left us at the cabin while they went to gamble in Lake Tahoe and we found a fire extinguisher. By the time Mom and Dad got back, there was white foam all over the living room, kitchen, and us. We all took part, even perfect Gary. I think he was 14 at the time. Vacations after that were us in a cabin in Tahoe and Mom and Dad off gambling.

Gary, you have no idea how many fond memories I have of you. I wish I had visited more frequently. With endearing love, I miss you dear brother.

I am so very grateful that he had the love of his wife Marilyn for 41 years and that they shared so many wonderful memories traveling all over the world.

Your sister Pam

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