Gene Alton Wilder Sr.

Gene Alton Wilder, Sr., 78, passed away June 4, 2017 at Memorial Health.

The Effingham County native was a U.S. Navy veteran, retiring from Gulfstream as a machinist. An entrepreneur, Gene was always thinking of his next enterprise and working on his latest project. He loved to hunt, fish and catch shrimp. But probably more than anything else, he loved to "pick;" if someone didn't "pull his chain" first, he would pull theirs. He was a huge fan of the Atlanta Braves and of NASCAR. As a young man, he used to race at Oglethorpe Speedway. He would boast of his welding work, telling of a time that his roll cage saved him when the car he was driving rolled end over end and he walked away.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Dessie Evans Wilder and Lucille Iona Jones Wilder; and his sister, JoAnn Wilder Morris.

Survivors include his wife, Jean Warner-Wilder; children, Donna Perkins (Johnny), Al Wilder (Melissa), and Julie Hendrix (Scottie); step sons, Robert Busch and Dan Peeling; sisters, Donna Benton, Linda Powell and Dot Wilder; grandchildren, Misty Cooler (Stephen), Mitchell Hodges (Katie), Shawn Hodges, Cody Hendrix and Garrett Wilder; step-grandson, Nick Peeling; 9 great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, followed by funeral services at 4 p.m. in the chapel.

Interment will follow in Marlow Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society , 4849 Paulsen Street #102, Savannah, GA 31405.

Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Home Effingham Chapel (912) 754-6421