William Lincoln “Bill” Wilde, Sr., age 98, entered his Heavenly home Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. He was born in Taunton, Mass., to the late Harrie Stansbury Wilde and Helen Louise Evans Wilde.

  He was preceded in death by his brother, Paul R. Wilde, son, William Lincoln “Billy” Wilde, Jr., former wife, Mary McManus Wilde, step-son, Mark Thomas Trickey, and step-great-granddaughter, Gabbie Tippett.

  Bill was a long time member of Roxboro Baptist Church where he served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher, and Wednesday night meal planner and cook. He proudly said he was the oldest member of the church. Bill retired from Carolina Power & Light after 26 years of service as an electrical foreman. He also served as president of the Roxboro Exchange Club.

Bill loved his family and fellowshipping over a meal he cooked. He had a passion for wood working, turning many wooden bowls form chunks of wood into works of art. One of his past passions was raising and showing Nubian milk goats. Bill’s younger years fostered a love for the sea and in his later years he enjoyed many trips to his beach home. He was an avid storyteller and he loved a good joke.

Bill was a World War II Navy veteran, having the rank of Petty Officer First Class Machinist. He served his country from 1942 to 1948. During his Asiatic Pacific Campaign, he was aboard the U.S.S. Bache, a Fletcherclass destroyer. The ship was struck on Mother’s Day, May 13, 1945 by a kamikaze pilot, setting the middle of the vessel on fire, damaging fire-fighting pumps, and threatening to sink the warship. Bill responded by securing the flooded engine room and working to prevent the Bache from going down, contributing to the saving of his ship.  He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and authorized to wear combat “V” by the President of the United States.

Surviving are his wife of 23 years, Caroline Snipes Wilde; two children, Helen Wilde Hall (Danny) and Diane Wilde Dorey (Mel). Step-children, Susan Trickey Melton (Harris), Cynthia Trickey Adams (Archie), and Lydia Trickey, daughter-in-law; two sisters, Jean Gunn and Harriet Emrich; Grandchildren, Jason Hall, Cory Stutts (Carla), Jennifer Carver (Rodney), Chris Carver (Nicky), Nathan Hall (Contessa), and Amanda Sherry. Step-grandchildren, Brooke M. Tippett (Kevin), Blake Melton (Tiffany), Liz Trickey Smith (Justin), and Jill Trickey Hidy (Chris).

  Great-Grandchildren, Steven Turner, Kenzi Stutts, Latt Stutts, Robbie Carver (Lisa), Haley Carver, Cody Turner, Daylyn Walker (Cherokee), Chaz Walker (Jolene), Mia Hall, Nathan Hall, and Louis Hall. Step-Greatgrandchildren, Gracie Tippett, Gavin Tippett, Wyatt Walker, Hadley Smith, and Waylon Melton.

Great-Great-grandchildren, Izzy Carver, Rosey Walker, Allie Walker, Ezra Walker, Maeve Walker, and Lillianna King.

Many other nephews, nieces, friends, caregivers (Joyce, Haley, Brenda, Dorothy, Pam, Cynthia, and Linda), and Duke Home Health & Hospice.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, at Roxboro Baptist Church. Officiating will be Dr. DuPre Sanders. The family will receive friends immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Roxboro Baptist Church, 202 S Main St., Roxboro, NC 27573 or My Life Matters, 80 Danwin Ln, Roxboro, NC 27573.

Other items that may interest you

Two charged with Wednesday murder

‘The heart and soul of the family’

Commissioners approve record digitization, hold off on other ARP projects

Sheriff candidate reports campaign sign shot

Landfill to adjust hours, close Saturdays

Crime reports: Aug. 27 - Sept. 5

Winstead named to Nov. BOC ballot