Vernon Wilder Jr.

Vernon Orville Wilder Jr., age 93, passed away on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. He was born in Long Beach, Mississippi on May 5, 1923 and was a longtime resident of Gulfport Mississippi, where he was a member of Orange Grove Church of Christ. He graduated from Gulfport High School in the class of 1941. In 1944 he joined the Army. He attended a special course in Radio Communication at Mississippi State College and the school of Electrical Engineering at Auburn University. He then attended the U.S. Army Signal corps Maintenance School at RCA Manufacturing Co. and Philco Training School in Philadelphia, PA. After completing this training he was assigned to a Top Secret Project, "IVORY SOAP" with the Signal Corps Unit on a Floating Aircraft Repair Ship, "Herbert A. Dargue", off the coast of Iwo Jima under the command of the 20th Air Force. After the end of World War II he was Honorably Discharged on February 6, 1946. After leaving the Army he was self-employed as a Patrolman on the Gulfport Naval Base now known as the U.S. Naval Construction Battalion Center. After several years he then went to work for Day Drug Co. in Gulfport and them as part owner of the Grays Drug Store. After a few years he was employed by the United States Postal Service where he retired after 30 years.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Audrey Leona Wilder of 68 beautiful years.
He is survived by two lovely daughters, Judy Ann and her husband, James Larry Swindell and Janet Faye and her husband, Timothy Mark Chapin; four grandchildren, Angelia Melissa and her husband, James Henry King, Aimee Rebecca Chapin, James Vernon Swindell and his wife, Tonia Renaa, and Jason Scott Chapin; and three great-grandchildren, James Cason King, Isabella Grace King, and River Wilder Chapin.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00AM on Saturday, May 20, 2017 at RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 11280 Three Rivers Rd., Gulfport with a visitation for family and friends one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow in Floral Hills Memorial Gardens.
RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 11280 Three Rivers Road, Gulfport is serving the family.
Memories may be shared at www.riemannfamily.com.