Martha Wilde

1934 - 2014

Martha Cloyes "Marty" Wilde entered the arms of her loving Savior on April 19, 2014.
She was born in Houston on November 2, 1934 to Gladys K. and Sidney B. Cloyes. She moved with her family to Pittsburg, Texas, where she graduated from high school. She attended The University of Texas and was president of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, graduating in 1957. It was there she met her husband-to-be, Carlton D. Wilde. They were married in 1958, and she taught second grade in Austin while he finished law school.
In addition to her husband of 55 years, she is survived by her son, Carlton D. Wilde, Jr. and his wife, Emily Tuttle Wilde of Houston, and daughter, Jennifer Wilde Fitzgerald and her husband, Daniel W. Fitzgerald of New York City; grandchildren, Carlton D. Wilde, III, Lee Griffey Wilde, William Tuttle Wilde, Eleanor Wilde "Nell" Fitzgerald, William Cloyes "Bill" Fitzgerald and Daniel Crowley Fitzgerald; brothers-in-law Henry D. Wilde, Jr. and wife, Cis, and William Key Wilde and wife, Ann, along with several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her son, William Cloyes "Bill" Wilde and sisters, Mary Cloyes Davidson and Jane Cloyes Brown.
A member of the Basic Class and Sarah Circle at First Presbyterian Church, she was a gifted Bible teacher, mentoring young mothers and leading the Bethel Bible Studies. She was noted for weaving into her lessons insights she gained from archeological trips to the Near East. A woman of grace, compassion, and faith, she lived her life confident in the promise of Ephesians 2:8: "For it is by grace you are saved through faith." Yet her faith was not without works. Marty had a passion for inner-city ministry. She founded an outreach to patients at Ben Taub Hospital and was a co-founder of the Shepherd Center.
She was a Master Gardener, a tireless worker at Bayou Bend gardens, and a member of the River Oaks Garden Club, opening her home to Azalea Trail visitors.
Marty loved the mountains of North Carolina where she and her family spent summers at their home in Montreat. After the death of her son, her family and friends established the Bill Wilde Youth Center there in his memory.
A celebration of the Resurrection will be at eleven o'clock in the morning on Wednesday, April 23, 2014, at First Presbyterian Church, 5300 Main Street with Pastor Bill Heston officiating. The family will greet friends in Fellowship Hall following the service.
A celebration of her life will also be held at a later date at the Memorial Garden in Montreat.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests gifts to Montreat Conference Center - Bill Wilde Youth Center, 401 Assembly Drive, Montreat, North Carolina, 28757.
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Tim. 4:7.