Earl James Wilder Jr

EARL JAMES WILDER, JR. February 3, 1914 - May 23, 2014 Earl James Wilder, Jr. was born February 3, 1914 in Syracuse, New York and died May 23, 2014 in Pasadena California. He is descended from one of the first Norwegians to settle in America - arriving in 1636. Earl graduated from McKinley High School, Buffalo, New York, Northwestern Bible Institute and Northwestern Evangelical Seminary in Minneapolis, with a Th.B. in 1940 then studied missionary medicine at Buffalo Bible Institute until he was inducted into the Army February 26, 1941. Earl served in the medical corps and as a chaplain's assistant and was discharged December 24, 1945 with the rank of sergeant. He was ordained to the ministry June 23, 1946 and served in Colombia with the Gospel Missionary Union 1946-1968 and then at Oak Hills Fellowship, Bemidji, Minnesota 1968-1986. Earl married Myrtle Jacobson, of Park Rapids, Minnesota on August 17, 1946, in Palmira, Colombia. He was predeceased by his wife Myrtle, three brothers Earl, Jessie and Frank and three sisters Clara, Pearl and Margaret. He is survived by two sons Jim (Kitty) and Timothy,two grandsons James and Rami (Becky), and many great grandchildren. Graveside Services will be held at 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 4, 2014 at the Greenwood Cemetery, Park Rapids, MN, with the Reverend Chris Coursey officiating. Visitation will be held at 11:00 AM (one hour prior to the Graveside service) at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids. To leave on line condolences please visit www.jonespearson.com. A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 14, 2014 at First Church of the Nazarene, Reed Hall #248 in Pasadena, CA with Pastor Darwin Ng officiating.