Richard "Dick" Wilde

Richard "Dick" Alan Wilde, 82, of Idaho Falls, passed away April 2, 2015, at Teton Post Acute Care & Rehabilitation. Richard was born to Rita and John T. Wilde on August 7, 1932 in Payson, Utah. He spent four years in the U. S. Air Force and then, thanks to the GI bill, attended the University of Utah, where he graduated with a degree in electrical engineering. The AEC in Idaho Falls then sent him to the Argonne National Laboratory for specialized training to become a nuclear engineer. He was passionate about conservation and was an avid outdoorsman in younger years. As an active member and officer of the Idaho Alpine Club, he remembered the altitude of every mountain he’d ever heard of. In the late 1960s, Richard fell in love with an Alpine Club co-adventurer, Sue, and in the early ‘70s they had two children, Chris and Kate, all of whom survive him and will miss him very much. He is also survived by two sisters, Diane and Jackie, three grandchildren, Thomas, Alex, and Audrey, and eleven nieces and nephews. After retiring from the DOE in 1989, he went on to get his degree in Philosophy from ISU and, in recent years, shared his deep and compassionate thoughts in many well researched Op Ed pieces and Letters to the Editor. He was also a long-time participant in Toastmasters, where he learned to give one hell of a good speech. He loved to get his hands on things and worked hard on various gardening projects and on completing an energy-efficient remodel of the home he lived in for 42 years. He designed and built the garden at the Unitarian Fellowship, where he was a valued member for many years. He also gathered food for the Food Bank and was a weekly volunteer for the Red Cross blood drives. Richard loved classical music and was a strong supporter of the local symphony. A true friend and a loving and loyal son, brother, husband, father, uncle and grandfather, his principles of love, honor, and truth were evident in everything he did. There will be a celebration of his life at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Idaho Falls (555 E Street) at 4:00 p.m. Thursday, April 9th. The short program will be followed by food and conversation. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to any of the following causes that were dear to Richard’s heart: the Unitarian Universalist Church in Idaho Falls, the Red Cross, the ACLU, state and local Democrats, the Food Bank, Idaho Public Television, the Idaho Falls Symphony, and to conservation and educational endeavors.

Celebration of Life will be held

4 p.m. ,Thursday, April 9, 2015 Unitarian Universalist Church 555 Idaho Falls, ID 83401 Notes: The short program will be followed by food and conversation.