Obituaries

Harold Wild, 88

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

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Dear Mrs. Wild:
My sincere sympathy to you and your family. I was saddened to read of Harold’s passing, but will always have warm memories of him during his years at Penn Manor. He was a terrific teacher and wonderful role model for us as young people growing up. You, Mrs. Wild, were my music teacher back at Ann LeTort Elementary School back in the 60’s. Now as I grow older, I realize how much I appreciate those who instructed me in school. You and Harold instilled the love of music to us all and for that we are truly grateful. Thank you! I enjoyed seeing you and Harold on occasion while I would be out shopping somewhere. When I would see him, I would always say "hello."
I have no doubt that Harold is now singing and playing in the great Heavenly band and choir. While we will miss him in this life, we will look forward to seeing our loved ones in Heaven. What a joyful day that will be.
May God grant you and your family His perfect peace, comfort, and strength during this time. May the Lord bless you and keep you as He is always near during good times and bad. 
Cordially in Christ,
Greg Barton
Penn Manor Class of 1974

Dear Mrs. Wild —

Mr. Wild was my band director at Eshleman Elementary many years ago. He always challenged me and encouraged me… I’ll never forget how we played the "Stars and Stripes Forever" in our concert – and he had me play the "Chicken Reel" by memory in front of the whole school… I was so nervous but he was always calm and gentle.  He is a big reason why I am a band director today.

I am so saddened by your loss — I lost my husband to cancer this past March — I wanted to send you this passage because it helps me — so maybe it will help you too. It is by Henry Van Dyke:

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says: "There, she is gone!"

"Gone where?"

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear the load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says: "There, she is gone!" There are the other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: "Here she comes!"

And that is dying.

Mr. Wild has never left me. He will never leave you either.

God Bless You and Much Love,
Jennifer Weidman Schoener

Dear Mrs. Wild, James and family:

I am deeply saddened by the death of Mr. Wild.  He was the teacher I remember most in high school and my experience as a senior choir member holds some of the best memories I have from those years.  I am grateful that I stayed in touch with you so that I was able to spend time with you as an adult as well.  Mr. Wild was an excellent musician and band leader who inspired us to do our best in a quiet and encouraging way.  I will always remember his laugh and his way with words.  I wish you all peace and I am hopeful that your memories will ease the pain of this loss over time.  Holding you in my heart and in my prayers,
Cynthia Lehman

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