Wilmer Theard

Wilmer Theard was born in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1931; the first child of Antoine Wilmont and Orelia Williams Theard. He departed this world on July 30, 2025 of natural causes.
Although Wil had not lived in New Orleans since the early 1960's the city left its' mark through the food he loved and the music he played in his beloved antique store. Wil first left New Orleans after high school to join the U.S. Army, where he was stationed in Austria. He loved the country and had lots of stories to tell of his time there.
Upon completing his service, Wil moved to California where he worked in the space industry testing rockets through the 1950's. The end of that era saw him back in New Orleans where he finished his accounting degree at Southern University of New Orleans. He accepted a position with the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) and moved to Houston. A transfer to Syracuse, New York with his wife Ora would set the stage for his lifetime passion, American antiques.
Wil and Ora moved into an old house and began shopping estate sales and local antique shops for period appropriate pieces. Wil was soon buying, refinishing and re-selling furniture and light fixtures; teaching himself the art of hand caning to make needed repairs.
In 1975, a promotion at the NCUA moved the family to the Washington, DC suburb of Olney, Maryland where he joined St. Peter's Church. Wil served as an usher at the early Sunday mass for many years.
In the early 1980s Wil's shop Antiques and Other Wonders opened in Olney Antique Village, where it remains today. Customers heard the sounds of his native city every time they walked into the shop, jazz always playing in the background. Wil loved the history and purpose of the antiques he sold, and more so sharing that history with his customers. His regulars came frequently to chat and listen the music. Leaving the daily management of the store was one of the most difficult decisions of his life. Fellow shop owners and customers always asked about him.
Wilmer was the loving husband of Ora Wagner Theard until her passing in 2022, father to Ora's daughter Sherunda Lister until her passing in 2018. Also preceding Wil were his parents, brother Harold J. Theard and Harold's son Bryant A. LaCour. Left to mourn Wilmer are his sister Joycelyn Theard-Battles MD (John), his daughter Rima M. Theard, her daughter Jessica; daughter Brita A. Theard-Blum (Eugene); son Stephen W. Theard (Michelle) and sons Christian, Curtis and Connor; nine nieces and nephews and a host of extended family and friends.
Services for Wil Theard will be held on Saturday September 13th at St. Peter's Catholic Church at 2900 Olney Sandy Spring Rd, Olney, MD 20832. Visitation is from 11am to 12, mass to follow.
A celebration of life will be held at the Olney Antique Village, in the Harlequin room on Sunday, September 14th from 2 to 5 pm. Details on the website www.OlneyAntiqueVillage.com.