Bruce Clinton Wilder

1935 - 2021

WILDER, Bruce Clinton, 86, of Mechanicsville, went with open arms to be with the Lord on Monday, October 18, 2021. He was born in Franklin County, North Carolina to the late Rufus and Eula Wilder; and was also preceded in death by wife, Florence Wilder; son, Ron Wilder; and brothers, Russell, Roger, Charlie and Johnnie. He is survived by his sisters, Ada Wood and Frances Perry (JW); brother, Phillip (Diane); children, Debbie Shobe (Chris), Barbara Cottrell, Sandra Frazier (Steve), Rick Wilder (Niki); nine grandchildren, Michelle Childress, Sarah Tranka, Stacy Cottrell, Sam Frazier, Ashley Kemp, Erin Marchetti, Jake Wilder, Jordan Wilder, Rhea Wilder; and seven great-grandchildren, Savannah, Jason, Georgia, Jed, Finley, Brees and Jackson.

Bruce moved from his home in N.C. to Va. in the summer of 1954 where he met and married the love of his life, Florence Smith, one year later. Bruce retired from Ford Motor Company - Tractor Division after 31 years of service. During his retirement, he worked an additional 13 years for Old Dominion Tractor. He was a faithful member of Antioch Baptist Church in Sandston where he served many roles including Sunday School superintendent, teacher, Deacon and Choir member. He dedicated his life to serving the Lord and touched the lives of many. The impact he made on those who knew him cannot be measured.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, October 22, at the Mechanicsville Chapel of Bennett Funeral Home, 8014 Lee-Davis Rd., where services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 23. Interment Signal Hill Memorial Park on Tuesday, October 26, at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Antioch Baptist Church, 3868 Antioch Church Rd., Sandston, Va. 23150 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 50, Memphis, Tenn. 38101-9929 or stjude.org/joinus to donate online.