Dorothy Houghton Wilder, 82, beloved wife, and mother, a 6 Year resident of Gainesville, GA, went to be with her Lord May 24, 2014, following a long battle with Alzheimers.
She was a native of Jacksonville, FL, the daughter of the late James N. and Marie Cloaninger Houghton, a graduate of Andrew Jackson High School, and Jacksonville Business College.
She was a secretary to the Commanding Officer and Administrative Officer of the Naval Air Station at Jacksonville, FL, where she also served as choir director for the Naval Air Station Chapel Choir, when she met and married then LTJG Fred J. Wilder, U.S. Navy, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, her husband of 60 years.
When her husband was stationed at the U.S. Naval Academy in 1955 she graduated from Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, MD, majoring in choir direction. After her husband transferred to the Naval Reserve in 1955 they resided for 47 years in Belleair, FL.
Dorothy "Dot" Wilder was active for many years in numerous leadership positions in the Belleair, and Clearwater, FL area (often as president of the organization) including as a paralegal in her husband's law practice (certified in Real Property and Estates and Trusts, by the National Association of Legal Assistants); the Clearwater-Dunedin Junior League; Parent Teachers Association; Footlight Theater Inc. (local productions of Broadway Shows); Director of Youth Choirs at Calvary Baptist Church for 25 years; Belleair Garden Club; and of great assistance to her husband during his tenure as chairman of the Charter Review Committee, and subsequent Mayor for the town of Belleair, FL; etc.
She is survived by her husband, Fred J. Wilder, a retired Naval Officer and retired attorney, residing in Gainesville; three children Attorney Gregory F. Wilder (Susan K.) of Tampa, FL, Dr. Stephen M. Wilder (Debra S.) of Albany, GA, and Airline Captain Diane W. Coe (John T.); three granddaughters (Whitney, Brooke, Rachel), two grandsons (Andrew, Chris), and one great-grandson (Asher).
The family requests donations to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, www.alzfdn.org, in lieu of flowers. The family plans a private memorial service.
Those wishing to send online condolences to the family may do so at littledavenport.com.
Little & Davenport Funeral Home, 355 Dawsonville Highway SW, Gainesville, GA. 30501, is in charge of the arrangements.
