BUNN – Charlie Leon Wilder, 69, of Bunn, died suddenly Wednesday February 15, 2012 while on a delivery for Pender Nursery in Greenville, SC.

Charlie Wilder was a tobacco farmer and served in law enforcement from 1972 to 1992, in which time he worked for the Bunn Police Department, Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, Louisburg Police Department, and the State Capitol Police. Even after his retirement from Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, Charlie kept working as The Watermelon Man, The Christmas Tree Man, driving for Pender Nursery, and entering every last business that anyone could imagine. He was a beloved resident of Franklin County, spending his Sundays worshiping in Bunn Baptist Church, his weekday mornings in the local restaurants with his close friends, and the rest of his time working hard and spending time with his family, teaching his grandchildren the art of “yes-sir” and “no-sir”. The love given to Charlie by the community was only matched by his giving heart. Not one soul that crossed his path would leave the encounter without knowing his name and how to contact him if they needed help. Charlie Wilder will be missed dearly by everyone.  Above all, his loving wife of 52 years.

Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Bunn High School Auditorium with the Rev. Michael Spain officiating. Burial will follow in Bunn Memorial Gardens. 

Charlie is survived by his loving wife, Berteen Hill Wilder; son, Charlie Michael (Donna Lamm) Wilder of Bunn; daughters, Jenny Lane Matthews (Jeremy) of Spring Hope and Judy Wilder Matthews of Bunn; ten grandchildren, Jason Wilson, Mack (Amber) Wilson, Sarah (Justin) Stallman, Charlie Matthews, Taylor Cowles, Jarrett Matthews, Knox Cowles, Preston Wilder, Jackson Wilder and Landon Wilder; and two great-grandchildren, Spencer Stallman and Ada Marie Wilson; brothers, Bruce Wilder of Mechanicsville, VA, Phillip Wilder of Bowling Green, VA, and Connie Moss of Spring Hope; sisters, Ada Mae Wood of Glen Allen, VA, Frances Perry of Mechanicsville, VA, and Peggy Aycock of Nashville. Charlie was preceded in death by his parents, Rufus and Eula Wilder; stepmother, Nobie Wilder; and siblings, Russell, Roger, Johnnie Wilder and Barbara Kennedy.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bunn Baptist Church, New Vision Fund, P.O. Box 144, Bunn, NC 27508.

The family received friends 7 – 8:30 p.m. Friday at Strickland Funeral Home & Crematory, Louisburg, www.stricklandfuneralhome.net.

Paid Obituary