Maurine Wilder
Maurine Wilder, 77, of Winamac, passed away at 9:05 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at her home surrounded by her family.
Maurine was born on May 24, 1939, in Columbus, to the late Lewis F. and Eathel (Myers) Wolters. At the age of 4, her family moved to Phoenix, Arizona. Maurine graduated from North Phoenix High School in 1958.
On Feb. 13, 1959, she married the love her life, Josh Wilder. They moved to Winamac in 1961 where they went on to raise their four children.
Maurine was a longtime member of the Winamac Church of the Nazarene, where she had formerly taught Sunday school and served as Bible school director, contributions secretary, Sunday school secretary, steward, secretary of the church board, missionary study chairman, and director of the “Pulpit Puppeteer” ministry. In 1999, she was presented with the Distinguished Service Award by her church congregation.
Maurine was an active member of the community. She was a founding member of the Razzle Dazzle Red Hat Ladies group and a co-founder of Visually Impaired Persons “VIP,” a local support group. Maurine was a former member of the Kitchen Kadettes and Lamda Phi. Over the years, she enjoyed assisting her husband with the Northern Indiana Power From the Past.
Maurine had the gift of writing. Along with hundreds of poems, she also wrote and self-published four books. Maurine was well-known in the community for her “Joy in the Mailbox” ministry where she wrote thousands of letters to shut-ins and those who were experiencing difficulties in their life. Upon reflection of her vision loss due to macular degeneration, Maurine recalled John 9:3, “…this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in my life.”
Maurine was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister. She will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved her.
She is survived by her husband Josh Wilder of Winamac; sons: Daryl [Dianna] Wilder of Winamac, and Daryn [Laura] Wilder of Lake Worth, Florida; daughters: Annette [Tom] Walke of Phoenix, Arizona, and Lynette Wilder of Winamac; granddaughters: Emily [Mike] Cons, and Britni Wilder; stepgranddaughters: Joaunpaey Davis and McKenzie Terry; stepgrandson John Terry; and sisters: Sherrill Griffin and Margaret [Wayne] DeMeritt.
She was preceded in death by her parents Lewis F. and Eathel (Myers) Wolters.
Visitation was from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22, at Frain Mortuary in Winamac, and one hour prior to services at the church Wednesday. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 23, at the Winamac Church of the Nazarene in Winamac. Burial will take place at McKinley Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Winamac.
Memorial contributions may be made to Winamac Church of the Nazarene or American Cancer Society or Kindred Hospice.
Online condolences may be offered in the guestbook at www.frainmortuary.com.
(Pulaski County Journal — Nov. 23, 2016)