Lesley Stewart “Stu” Wilder, 84, a longtime resident of Lyons, passed away Saturday, March 26, 2022, at Hospice House in Hutchinson. He was born March 29, 1937, in Acmar, Alabama, the son of Henry Earl and Gazelle (Hawkins) Wilder.
He graduated from Pell City High School in Pell City, Alabama. After graduating from Pell City High School, he joined the United States Navy. While stationed in Hutchinson, he met and married Mary Limones in 1957.
Once discharged from the Navy, he worked at the Pepsi Bottling Company in Lyons, and for Cessna in Hutchinson. In 1974, Stu and his wife, Mary, opened Wilder Upholstery Shop, in Lyons which they operated until their retirement in 2020. Stu learned the upholstery trade while working part-time for Vic Brown at Vic’s shop during his time at Cessna.
Stu is preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Gazelle Wilder; son, Bryant W. Wilder; and brother, Steven Clifton Wilder. Stu is survived by his wife, Mary Wilder of Lyons; four sons, William “Bill” (Stacey) Wilder of Lyons; David (Carrie) Wilder of Lyons; Bruce (Annie) Wilder of McPherson; Christopher “Chris” (Linda) Wilder of Pell City, AL; daughter, Bettina “Tina” (Rick) Kloxin of Lyons; daughter-in-law, Cindy Wilder, widow of Bryant Wilder; two sisters, Earlene Dobbs and Glinda Faulkner, both of Pell City, AL; thirteen grandchildren; twenty great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.