Ron Wilder, 62 of Louisville, Kentucky passed away and made his transition to the great beyond on April 24, 2024. Ultimately, he would have rather been on a beach sipping a rum drink but that’s how life, or rather death, goes.
Ron was born Ronald Edwin Wilder, with a great disdain for his middle name on April 22, 1962, to Alvis and Melvilene Wilder in Louisville, KY. He grew up in Okolona, KY, and was a happy child. (Having no obligations or bills to worry about he had very little reason not to be).
He went on to Okolona and Prestonia Elementary and then Durrett High School, where he was the Editor of the school newspaper. He later enrolled at the University of Louisville where he became enamored with getting college degrees. By the time his formal education was over he had earned two Associate degrees, two Bachelor's degrees, and a Master's in Business Administration. Very little of what he learned would prepare him for his future life.
After graduation, Ron began writing for The Cobb Group, a computer self-help publisher. He was responsible for the Apple products. He insisted that the flailing Apple corporation would become a highly profitable company but few at the firm agreed. Ron of course had the last laugh with Apple becoming the first company valued over one trillion dollars. To say that Ron was an Apple fan was an understatement. (Though he never got an Apple tattoo!).
After leaving The Cobb Group, Ron decided to do something to help people—something with a bit of a legacy. To whit Ron joined Anchorage Fire and Rescue as an Emergency Medical Technician and Firefighter. He continued to work there for 25-some-odd years. He would have continued on with this job until he was decrepit, but a knee injury while on a fire scene caused his early retirement.
During his retirement, Ron organized every square inch of his house, alphabetized his 600+ CD collection, and set up a chronological photo album for every member of his family. He did not do well with retirement. He decided to fall back on what he knew….going back to school.
Ron went to Ivy Tech, where he earned his Registered Nurse license as well as making a ton of new friends. With his RN in tow, Ron went to the University of Louisville Hospital Emergency Room where he would work for close to ten years. This was by far, the most rewarding time of his life. He hated the job, but yet he was excited to walk in the doors each day to see what would happen— the lives saved and changed for the better were a blessing to the now-jaded Ron.
After bilateral knee surgery, Ron figured that the ER was no longer a viable option for an old man, so he retired from there and quickly took a job as an occupational nurse at the Ford Assembly Plant, a job from which he finally retired for good.
During all of his years, Ron never found the right lady so he remained single all of his life. But he was lucky enough to have a large group of close friends.
When not working, Ron enjoyed photography and traveling in warm climates that included a beach—St. Maarten and Key West were among his favorite places to visit.
Now for the regular stuff. Ron was predeceased by his father Alvis Aaron Wilder, his mother Melvilene Wilder, and his older brother Donnie Wilder (Denise). He is survived by his brothers Larry (Carol) and Shawn (Angie) Wilder, as well as two nephews Tim and Aaron Wilder (Ashton), and one niece Alayna Wilder.
A celebration of life will be held at Arch L. Heady at Resthaven Funeral Home 4400 Bardstown Road Louisville, Kentucky 40218, on July 22, 2024 at 4PM to 8PM. In lieu of flowers, Ron requests you do at least one good deed for another person — make a difference in someone’s life.
The words Ron tried to live by…
To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty; To find the best in others; To give of one's self; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived — This is to have succeeded.
The trouble is, you think you have time. -Buddha
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.11.1