Howard D. Wilde Jr.

Howard D. Wilde Jr., 92, of Sharon, Passed away at 3:30 a.m., on Monday, July 7, 2014 in his residence. He was 92..
Howard was born in Taunton, MA on May 26, 1922, the son of the late Howard D. and Carrie A. (Coombs) Wilde. He was educated in Taunton Schools. His first school was a four room school with eight grades and four teachers, two grades to a room. The school had no cafeteria or any other luxuries and everyone walked to school. Howard graduated from Taunton High School in 1940. While in high school, he started the first of 66 years of work. He worked for the Taunton Daily Gazette earning 35 cents an hour. He carried newspapers from the press to the circulation department for three and one half hours per weekday. On Saturdays, he worked for 8 hours driving the newspaper delivery truck. .
In 1941, he matriculated to Penn State University at State College. Pearl Harbor disrupted his studies , as Penn State went from two semesters to three semesters a year. As he was working his way through college, he had to drop out to earn more money. He returned to Taunton and got a laborer job building an Army Camp. He tried to elist in all service of the United States, but was rejected because of poor eyesight. In late Novemeber of 1942, he received a draft call to report for duty in Boston. Much to his surprise, he was drafted as a limited services personel. Howard was sent to basic training in Boston. The unit had a soldier going to Master Gunner School at Camp Davis, NC who had flunked out. Wilde had a high Army General Classification and was sent as a replacement for Master Gunner School in Camp Davis. Howard graduated in the top five of his class and was discharged as an enlisted man and re-enlisted as a Warrant Officer Junior Grade. He was then assigned to the 501st AA Battalion 90 mm Gun Unit at what is now Oyis Airfield Base on Cape Cod, MA, from there he was transferred to Pittsburgh, California, the Oahu and onto the invasion of Saipan, Marianas Island. Howard was dischrged as a Chief Warrant Officer on June 30, 1946. He earned Military Decorations of the Asiatic Pacific Services Medal, Bronze Star, WWII Victory Medal and the American Service Medal.
In September of 1946 , he returned to PSU an the GI bill. On june 12, 1948, he married Virginia Livingston, daughter of Pearl and Ralph B. Livingston.. Howard was offered a graduate assistantship that lasted 2 years while he worked on his Masters Degree. In September of 1951 he made a carrer change coming to Sharon to become manager of Sharon Stationery. Community activities became a part of Howard's life. When it was known that he was an Eagle Scout, he was recruited to head an explorer post, then head of a cub pack and the a troop committeeman.Howard's main contribution to the community was Redevelopment. He was appointed to the Sharon Redevelopment Authority by Mayor Scott and served 10 years, 8 of the as chairmen. The result of his activity was the South Flats Project which resiulted in two elderly high rises, two market rental units, and section 8 housing projects for the city of Sharon. Included in this project were Bi-Centenial Park, and the land for the new City Hall. In the North Flats area, the major emphasis was for the local campus of PSU. In 1985, he was paaointed to the Mercer County Redevelopment Authority and then was elected Vice-Chairmen which rebuilt the industrial area of Wheatland. Other community activities include membership in the Sharon Rotary for 56 years, the Sharon Elks Lodge, 50+ years in Masonic Lodge 250/359 , New Castle Consistory, Past President of the Sharon University Club, Past President of Sharon Merchants Association, and a member of the Penn State Advisory Board since 1965.
Howard served as President of the former Sharon Stationery for majority of his years with the company. During that time there was a mjor flood at the Chestnut Ave. location so in 1959, it moved to the Masonic Building on Vine Ave.. The store continued until 1996 when operations were merged with Castle Stationery until it was bought out bt Hicks Office Products of which Howard continued working with until his retirement in 2004. He enjoyed being an avid golfer, camping and bowling. He is a member of the Unitarian Universal Church of Youngstown, OH and Taunton, MA, the American Legion Post 299, and the Post 6166 VFW. He is preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Mary Ellen White, a brother, Samuel M. Wilde and his first wife, Virginia, who died on April 20, 1999, whom he was married to for 50 years. He is survived by his brother, Ralph C. Wilde, his second wife, Fay whom he married in 2006. Two Children, David Wilde and his wife, Lori and granddaughter Caroline, Susan Trimble-Schubert and her husband , Gerhard and grandchildren, Will Trimble, Sara Deckard and Andrew Trimble and a great-grandson, Carson Trimble. Also surviving are 5 step-children, Richard C. Lentz Jr. and wife, Rosella, Donna Beery and husband, John; Thomas Lentz and wife, Kathy; William Lentz; Mary Cunning and husband, Rick; along with 14 step-grandchildren and 19 step great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Penn State Advisory Scholarship Fund, 147 Shenango Ave, Sharon, PA , 16146
A Gathering Time will be held on Thursday, July 10, 2014 , form nonn until 2:00 p.m. at Harold W. Stevenson Funeral Home, 264 E. State St., Sharon PA 16146 A Memorial Service will begin at 2:00 p.m in the funeral home with Rev. Matt Ashpaugh of the Unitarian Universal Church of Youngstown officiating. Burial of cremains in Hillcrest Memorial Park in Hermitage, PA