Douglas R. Wilder ’58

Douglas R. Wilder ’58 passed away in North Carolina on January 20. Doug grew up in upstate New York and at Dartmouth was an art major (pre-architecture) and a Theta Delta Chi brother. He served two years in the Army and then had a 27-year career at IBM, much of it in marketing and planning. After retiring early Doug and his wife moved to Flat Rock, North Carolina, where he began a second career as an independent design and sales representative for manufacturers of custom post-and-beam homes. Doug called this “a satisfying second career, but without the pressure of big business and the required move every four or five years. Here I met really nice people and [helped] them create the homes they’ve always dreamed of.” He also found time to play golf three or four times a week and to pursue his hobby of growing bonsai. A friend said, Doug “had a unique talent for always listening before he spoke, which made people feel special.” Doug is survived by his second wife, Cathy, a son, a daughter, and four granddaughters.