Rash's Surname Index
Notes for James William WILDE
James W. Wilde (1893 - 1979): As a third generation funeral director, Jim recalled going out with his father to a home at the age of 6 to help embalm a body. In 1912 he graduated from the Eckels College of Mortuary Science in Philadelphia and began his lifelong career as a funeral director.
James purchased the present Wilde Funeral Home at 434 Main St. in 1928 and began to offer "his" home for funerals thus relieving families of sad associations during the funeral ceremonies. He advertised "Homelike Surroundings - No Charge for Use of Home". He was able to acquire from the local telephone company phone # 1 for the business.
Like his father, James was very active with many civic organizations in Parkesburg . He was a member and former president of the Chester County Funeral Directors Assoc. He was also an avid sportsman who enjoyed skeet shooting and bird hunting.
His first wife, Edith Galloway died from complications soon after the birth of their daughter Dorcas in 1924. In 1928 James married his second wife Ruth Kirk from Chester, Pa. Over the next few years they were blessed with three sons, James K. Wilde, Thaddeus W. Wilde and William S. Wilde, two of whom (James K. and Thaddeus "Bud") are in their late 70's and still in the funeral business today.
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