Max attended Foothill High School and Bakersfield College. He joined the United States Navy in 1968, achieving the rank of Boatswain's Mate Second Class. He was honorably discharged in 1974. During his active duty, he served two tours in Vietnam on the U.S.S. Implicit, a minesweeper.
After the Navy, Max worked for the United States Postal Service as a letter carrier and custodian from 1972 to 2007. Working in the downtown Bakersfield station, he met his wife of 32 years, Deborah. They were married July 25th, 1992 in Beale Park, not too far from both of their routes.
The loves of his life were his family, gardening, his pets (Spaz and Spike) and Fred, and his iPad where he could keep in touch, post on Facebook, correspond with his Navy buddies and Google just about everything.
He will be missed by his wife, Deborah; ex-wife Jan; mother-in-law Margie; sister, Marty Barnes and her daughter, Claudia Disney; son and daughter-in-law, Matthew and Rebecca Wiles, grandchildren Jacob, Elijah, Austin, and Natalie; daughter and son-in-law, Melissa and Terence Leonard, granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Mariah and Rocky Hoosier; grandson and granddaughter-in-law, Trae and Natalie Wiles; grandson, Terence Leonard Jr.; granddaughter, Simara Wiles; grandson, Jai Leonard; son and daughter-in-law, Matthew and Amanda Gaona, granddaughters, Ezabella and Ezalea; great grandchildren, Carter, Oliver, Emmily, Ethan, Greyson Max, Adelyn, and Odin; lifelong friend Frank Wells and many others.
Now gooder, he has joined his parents, Max A and Adah Wiles, and his brother-in-law Barney Barnes.
Max leaves behind many others who loved and admired him. His church family from Coronado Baptist Church in Bakersfield, California, where he served in the sound ministry for 15 years. And his most recent church family from New Hope Baptist Church, Cedar Park, where he attended from 2016 until his illness made it impossible. His greatest joy was his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren and spending time with them.
Beloved son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother-in-law, uncle, cousin, and friend.
His love was pure, unconditional, and eternal.
"I have fought the good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith." -2nd Timothy 4:7
Max's life will be celebrated during a memorial service on May 18, 2024 at 11:00am at New Hope First Baptist Church, 200 W New Hope Dr Cedar Park 78613.
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