John Alvord DeWILDE

<br />Born in Maplewood, N.J., John spent his childhood in Lynnfield, Massachusetts. John graduated, Class of ‘54, from University of Maine, Orono where he met his wife of 56 years, Nancy Cameron DeWilde, and also established a life-long friendship with many from his Sigma Chi fraternity.<br />John served in the USN sailing on the USS Fiske 1954-56. He retired as Vice President Human Resources after a long career with GTE Sylvania. John showed artistic talents in oil and watercolor painting. He also used his creativity and woodworking skills in a multitude of construction and home improvement projects.<br />After retirement, John and Nancy traveled throughout North America for 13 years. Ten years ago they bought a waterfront home in Sun City Center, Fla. Along with his wife, he was active for seven years on the Sun City Center Emergency Squad as ambulance driver and first responder.<br />Strongly believing in the benefits of staying healthy, he practiced yoga and regularly attended the Fitness Center. He was president of the New England Club and a member and former treasurer of the Art Club.&nbsp; He was also a member of the United Methodist Church of SCC. More recently he was volunteering as an elementary school class aide. John and Nancy enjoyed their summer home on Seven Tree Pond in Union Maine.<br />In addition to his wife Nancy, John is survived by daughter Catherine and husband Michael Lyons of Marblehead Massachusetts; daughter, Jennifer and husband Harold Caswell of Cape Elizabeth, Maine; son, Richard and wife, Brenda DeWilde of Wendell North Carolina; and his grandchildren, Stephanie Lyons, and Cameron and Cole Caswell.