Joseph A. Wilder, 91, has returned to his heavenly home. A long time resident of Tidewater, he loved the beauty, abundance, and serenity of the Chesapeake Bay Area Lake (Smith) and Rivers. He was born in Norfolk at the home of his grandparents, Angelo and Theresa Mastracco.
He graduated from Maury High School and Devry Technical Institute in Chicago, Illinois. He held positions with C&P Telephone Co., WTOUTB, WAVY TV, Grant Open Air Market, and Farm Fresh. He served and was honorably discharged from the US Army Infantry in 1955. He was married to Joan Calhoun from Greenwood, SC for 57 great years and had two sons: Stephen Joseph and Kenneth Alen Wilder; two grandchildren: Holly Wilder Stutts (Kevin) and David Angelo; and two great-grandchildren: Kelly Austin and Wilder Everet Stutts. He also has a brother, Alvah Martin, Jr. (Judy). He is predeceased by his parents, Mary Mastracco and Alvah Martin, Sr. who were native Norfolkians.
Joseph appreciated and was thankful for the loving and special relationship shared with Barbara Saunders and Gillian Valentine. He was a member of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church (Norfolk), Cosmopolitan Club of Norfolk (Pres. 1981), and Society of Novus Spiritus and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
A private service will be held at Rosewood Memorial Park on October 10, 2024 at 2:00 pm. A reception will be held at the family home after the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made out to St Stephen’s Episcopal Church (1445 Norview Ave Norfolk, Va 23513) or Cosmopolitan Club of Norfolk (1800 Fleet Terrace Va Beach, Va 23454).