Alice Joan Wilder, 92

Published 10:26 am Thursday, September 12, 2024

Alice Joan Wilder, age 92, of Middlesboro, KY, lovingly known as Joann, passed peacefully on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, leaving behind a legacy of a most compassionate and caring wife, mother, grandmother and friend to all who knew her. Born in Gainesville, Georgia, Joann moved to Atlanta where she trained to become a registered nurse, a career that she enjoyed for many years while providing compassionate care for patients at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta & Middlesboro Hospital in Kentucky. Most importantly, her most cherished role was being a loving, devoted mother to her six children, and being a wife of 71 years to her husband whom she adored. Joann was preceded in death by her parents, R. Phillip and Ruth Dooley Woody; and brother, Phillip Douglas Woody. Joann is survived by her husband, Roy Wilder; six children, Tony (Melissa) Wilder, Mike (Kathy) Wilder, Mark (Trissa) Wilder, Larry Wilder, Laurie Wilder Sigmon, and Susie (Steve) Wilder Maxwell; loving grandchildren, Bradley (Katie) Wilder, Lindsey (Alex) Wilder Nieuwland, Matthew (Pamela) Sigmon, Katie (Drew) Wilder Landgrave, Jonathan (Patrick) Ward, Amanda (Stephanie) Wilder, Samuel Maxwell, Olivia Maxwell, Cameron Wilder, Madeline Maxwell; great-grandchildren; and many cousins and nieces. Her joyful spirit never diminished regardless of what challenges she faced; her commitment to her family was always her priority. Her strength was incomparable and unwavering. She was an inspiration to us all. She will be dearly missed, most especially by her loving children and husband. She was fun loving with a heart of gold, and she has always radiated love and laughter. We will keep that with us forever. The family will receive friends 12:00-1:00 PM on Monday, September 16, 2024, at Bridges Funeral Home with the funeral service at 1:00 PM officiated by Karen Greene Blondell followed by a procession to Greenwood Cemetery for a 3:00 PM interment. Pallbearers: Matthew Sigmon, Samuel Maxwell, Alex Nieuwland, Cameron Wilder, Drew Landgrave, and Bradley Wilder. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Lupus Foundation, 4004 Hillsboro Pike, Suite 216-B, Nashville, TN 37215. Arrangements by Bridges Funeral Home, 5430 Rutledge Pike, 865-523-4999. www.bridgesfuneralhome.com