Obituary of Deloss D. Wilder

Deloss D. Wilder passed away peacefully on Friday, November 21, 2014. He was 91 years old. Deloss was born in Santa Cruz, California, on April 6, 1923, to Deloss R. and Jean Wilder. Dee was the fourth generation to own and operate the Wilder Ranch, now a state park. Dee grew up on the ranch, attending local schools and graduating from Santa Cruz High School. He was a student at Washington State until enlisting in the Army Air Corp where he served as an airplane mechanic in World War II. Before being called overseas he married his high school sweetheart, Barbara DeWitt, in a small ceremony at the Church of the Wayfarer in Carmel. Deloss and Barbara were happily married for 70 years. After the war, Dee returned to his wife and newborn daughter, Sandi, where he resumed ranching full time. In 1948, when their second daughter, Janet, was born, Dee built a new house on the property for his family. Deloss was a true sportsman. He was a member of the Santa Cruz Rifle Club. His high power rifle four-man team won the state championship in 1950, setting the "Short Range Course" National Record. He was a member of many hunting clubs including Gustine Gun Club, where he and his father hunted ducks together for over 40 years. After his daughters were married, he welcomed his sons-in-law to the duck club, where the three generations of men hunted together for many seasons. Dee was also an avid fisherman, always looking for new locations to throw in his line. In the late 1950s, he read about a new lake in Napa County, Lake Berryessa. He took a day trip to try out the fishing and ultimately leased the first lakefront lot available. This became a favorite destination for the entire family, including his four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, for nearly 50 years. Deloss was a huge train buff. He spent many hours building model railroads, even adding a room on to his house to accommodate his extravagant track designs. When arthritis prevented him from continuing his hobby, he offered a large part of his collection for sale as a fundraiser for Omega Nu of Santa Cruz. When Wilder Ranch was acquired by the State of California for a park, Dee retired from ranching and he and Barbara moved into town. Their new home was the perfect setting for entertaining family and friends. He especially enjoyed gathering around the swimming pool on weekends with the family, where he helped teach his grandkids to swim. Dee and Barbara became big fans of cruising, traveling to Alaska, Mexico, Central America and Europe. Dee was a great story teller and could strike up a conversation with anyone he met, instantly making new friends on each trip. Deloss is survived by his two daughters and sons-in-law, Sandi and Al McCommon and Janet and Bob Lockwood; grandchildren Scott McCommon, Lauren French (Mark), Kelly Reber (Jeff), and Craig Lockwood (Stephanie); great-grandchildren Allison, Emily and Gavin McCommon, Audrey and Lindsay French, MacKenzie and Montanna Reber, and Wilder and Reagan Lockwood; and cousin Nancy Campeau. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Barbara, his parents Deloss R. and Jean Wilder, and his brother Bill Wilder. The family sincerely wishes to thank the caring staff at Dominican Oaks and Driftwood Skilled Nursing Home. In accordance with Deloss's wishes, a private family remembrance is being planned.