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 Harold
Wild, 88, of Millersville, passed away on August 31, 2009 at
Susquehanna Valley Nursing and Rehab Center.
Harold retired
in 1980 from the Penn Manor School District as the Director of
Music, K-12. Formerly, he was the high school band director and
instrumental music teacher in the Penn Manor School District. His
teaching career began in 1947, in the Greene-Dreher School
District in the Poconos, Newfoundland, PA.
Harold played
the French horn in the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra. In high
school, he played the French horn with the Harrisburg Symphony
Orchestra, and also, while attending Lebanon Valley College. In
1937, he was the state champion in French horn solo competition
and the winner of second division on the national level, while
attending Cornwall High School.
Harold
graduated from Lebanon Valley College with a Bachelor's Degree in
Music Education and from Columbia University with a Master's
Degree in Music Education. He also continued his advanced studies
in music at Temple and Penn State Universities.
During WWII,
he was in the Pacific for 2 ½ years with the 7th
Evacuation Hospital, US Army. He served on the Islands of New
Caledonia, Fiji, Guadalcanal, New Britain, Luzon, and Japan. He
was in the invasion of Luzon at Lingayun Gulf and among the first
troops to land in Japan in the Army of occupation. He was awarded
four bronze stars.
Harold was
born in Moor Row, Cumbria, England. He was the son of the late
James Joseph and Mary James Wild of Cornwall, PA.
He was married
for 61 years to Evelyn (Spitler) Wild of Millersville. In addition
to his wife, he is survived by a son, James Alan Wild, husband of
Katherine, of Stewartstown, PA, two grandchildren, Jeffrey Harold
husband of Lindy, of Lebanon, PA and Wendy Elizabeth Wild, of
Middletown, PA. He is also survived by a sister, Margaret, wife of
Franklin E. Dechert, of Lebanon, PA. He was preceded in death by a
sister Mary Treist, of Lebanon, PA who died in 2007
Harold was a
member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Millersville, where he was
the senior choir director for 23 years, with his wife serving as
the church organist. He also was a Sunday School teacher at St.
Paul and served on various church committees, notably, as chairman
of the furnishings committee for the new church in 1973.
Harold was a
member of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees, and VFW
Millersville Post #7294. Harold enjoyed playing golf and swimming.
He was an avid Philadelphia Phillies and Eagles fan.
Relatives and
friends are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral Service
from St. Paul Lutheran Church 222 N. George St. Millersville, PA
17551 on Friday, September 4, 2009 at 10:00am with Rev. Dr. Bruton
Parry officiating. Visitation will be held at the church from
9:30-10am. Interment will take place from Cornwall Methodist
Cemetery with Military Honors. In lieu of flowers, memorial
contributions may be made in Harold's memory to St. Paul Lutheran
Church or to Hospice of Lancaster County 685 Good Drive PO Box
4125 Lancaster, PA 17604. Arrangements made by Charles F. Snyder
Funeral Home, 872-5041, Millersville, PA. To send the family
online condolences please visit snyderfuneralhome.com |
