James Edward Wilder

James Edward Wilder, the eldest of five children born to William Joseph (“Buster”) Wilder and Mildred Nadine (Hamilton) Wilder, was born on February 17, 1936, and died on April 30, 2023, at the age of 87. James spent almost his whole life in Austin, except for four years in Texas City. When James was 9 years old, Buster Wilder had moved the family to Texas City.

James attended Ridgetop Elementary and Baker Elementary and Junior High. He attended 10th and 11th grades at Austin High School. He started his senior year at McCallum High School. His class would become the first graduating class of McCallum. Although James did not graduate with his classmates, he finally received his GED from UT’s Division of Continuing Education later in life.

James married Ruth Lavern Nielsen in December 1953, and they had two daughters, Sharon Elaine and Cynthia Jeanette. James and Ruth divorced in 1963.

James served in the Texas Army National Guard from 1953 to 1962. He was in the 149 MP Company in 49th Armored Division for 9 years.

On July 10, 1965, James married Elizabeth Ann (Liz) Evanicky, and they had two sons, James Edward, Jr., and Steven Wayne.

Before he and Liz married, James held various jobs in the sales industry. Additionally, James worked for Bruce’s Fried Pie Co. for 17 years as a route supervisor. He later worked for Brown Distributing Co. as a long-haul driver for 10 years. Then he worked as a courier for various companies.

He loved traveling and being outdoors not only with his jobs but also with his vacations. James took his family to Disneyland and Disney World. He and Liz joined the Good Sam Club and made many travels to Texas parks with their camping trailer. In 2003, they took the trip of a lifetime, pulling their Wilderness travel trailer on a 48-day trip to Alaska with fellow Good Sam-ers whom they had never met before. On the trip they made lifetime friendships.

They also made trips to nearly every state in the continental US, traveling from Texas to Washington state to visit their son, stopping along the way to visit Liz’s cousin in California. They traveled east to visit family in Georgia and on up to see friends in Kentucky and New York.

James had a deep love for traveling and meeting new people. He also had a deep love for his younger siblings. While living in Texas City, James had a paper route and used the money earned to buy bicycles for his younger siblings. He loved his family and was proud of the Wilder name. He left a legacy of good work ethic for his family to follow.

James is preceded in death by both parents, Buster and Mildred Wilder; his three sisters, Barbara Dunnam, Patsy Nolen, and Nancy Runyan; and his sister-in-law, Brookie Wilder.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years Liz Wilder; brother Tom Wilder; sons James Edward Wilder, Jr. (Terry) and Steven (Erik Hauck); daughters Sharon Thomas and Cindy Bohr (Mike); granddaughters Kara Wilder (Carl Landau), Kelsey Wilder, Kylie Wilder, Melissa Bonwell, Lara Bonwell, Allyson Wilson; grandson Nathan Bohr (Maria); great-grandchildren Lana, Ender, baby on the way, Jolissa, Larissa, and Peyton. Also surviving are brothers- and sisters-in-law Rick and Lillian Boehm, Richard and Aleene Howser, Bud and Judy Evanicky, Cookie Evanicky, Kenneth Dunnam, and Larry Runyan; several cousins; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Ascension Seton Home Health and Compassus hospice care, especially Amelia, Wanda, Nancy, Tina, Lindsey, Helen, and Zoe, for the care they provided.

A visitation will be held at Cook-Walden Funeral Home located at 6100 North Lamar Blvd. from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 7, 2023. A celebration of life will be held on Monday, May 8, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Northwest Hills Methodist Church located at 7050 Village Center Drive, Austin, TX, 78731.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Northwest Hills UMC or a charity of your choice. Fond memories or expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com