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Dolan Funeral Home
106 Middlesex Street
Chelmsford, MA 01863
Phone: (978) 251-4041
Have questions: email
us.
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 H. Arnold Wilder,
99, of Westford, MA died three days before his 100th birthday on
Wednesday May 20, 2009 at the Lowell General Hospital.
Born in Lancaster, NH on May 23, 1909, he was the son of the late Henry
E. and Evelena (MacPherson) Wilder. A long time and well-known resident
of Westford, Arnold graduated from Westford Academy with the Class of
1927. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering
from Northeastern University in 1966.
He worked as a Manager of Government Facilities at Raytheon Corp.
before retiring in 1974. He previously was employed at the Abbott
Worsted Company from 1935 to 1956 and the Wright & Fletcher
General Store from 1928 to 1934.
Arnold was very active member with the Masons. He was raised Master
Mason in the Caleb Butler Lodge in Ayer, MA in 1933 and Worshipful
Master in 1945. In 1938 He became affiliated with the Tahattawan Lodge
in Littleton and served as organist in both Lodges from 1981 to
present. From 1948 to 1950 he was the District Deputy Grand Master of
the Fitchburg 13th Masonic District. He was a member and Past High
Priest-Bancroft Chapter, Royal Arch Masons. In 1961 he became a member
of the Lowell Lodge of Perfection, Princes of Jerusalem, Mt. Calvary
Chapter-Rose Croix, the Mass. Consistory- Boston. He was Past Thrice
Potent Master, Lowell Lodge of Perfection and in 1990 elected 33 Degree
Honorary Member of the Supreme Council. He joined the Scottish Rite of
Lowell in 1961, the Aleppo Temple-Shriners 1962 and its Mounted Patrol.
In 1990 he earned the Scottish Rite 33 Degree in Milwaukee in 1990. He
held numerous awards including the Joseph Warren Distinguished Service
Medal, Veterans Medal, Mass. Council of Deliberation Meritorious
Service Award 1970 and Certificate of Appreciation for 50 years as
District Deputy Grand Master.
Arnold served as Honorary Director of the Middlesex County 4-H Fair and
their Mounted Patrol Engineer 1964 until present. He was a member and
former assistant secretary of the Railway & Locomotive
Historical Society, and Past President and member of the National
Railroad Enthusiasts 1942-1945. He was former member of the Westford
Historical Commission, a trustee of Westford Academy and “Field Driver”
for the Town of Westford.
Arnold loved horses having owned five during his lifetime, Bobbie,
JoeBee, Laddie, Topaz and Lady Mary. He rode many of the horses in many
parades throughout area and at Westford’s 200th anniversary he was the
Parade Marshall riding Topaz dressed in his colonial outfit. It is
rumored that Topaz is the only horse that has been thru all of the
degrees in Masonry and has stood at the West of the Altar in Tahattawan
Lodge to assume his obligations.
He is survived by two nephews, John and his wife Valerie Wilder of
Westford, MA, Gary and his wife, Pam Wilder of Chester, NH; three
nieces, Jean Wilder of Colorado, Katherine Bryant of California, Jill
Pais of Rowley, MA; many friends and Masonic Brothers, among them;
Clayton and Beverly Dearth of Seabrook, NH and George and Deborah
Fletcher of Westford.
He was predeceased by his brothers, George and Bernard Wilder.
Funeral Notice
WILDER- H. Arnold Wilder, 99, of Westford died May 20, 2009. Visiting
hours are Tuesday 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. with a Masonic Service at 8:00 p.m.
at the DOLAN FUNERAL HOME 106 MIDDLESEX ST. CHELMSFORD, MA. 01863.
Funeral Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. in the Funeral Home. Burial in Summer
Street Cemetery, Lancaster, NH at a later date. Memorials may be made
in his memory to the Greater Lowell Scottish Rite Learning Center 79
Dutton St. Lowell, MA 01852 or to the Trustee’s of Westford Academy C/o
Enterprise Bank 237 Littleton Rd. Westford, MA Att:Ryan Dunn.
ARRANGEMENTS BY DOLAN FUNERAL HOME 978-251-4041. Guestbook at
www.dolanfuneralhome.com |
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