| Sources |
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 25 Jul 2002.
Faye Wilde Ratcliff obituary
- [S113] Manes Funeral Home, (http://www.manesfuneralhome.com), 15 May 2006.
(October 1, 1924 - May 15, 2006)
James Wendell Wilde, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, brother-in-law and friend to so many, was born October 1, 1924, and passed away Monday, May 15, 2006, at his home following a brief illness. Wendell’s smile, wit, humor and, loving kindness will be fondly remembered by all who knew him. He loved the farmland and mountains of East Tennessee and never desired to live anywhere else. After his retirement from Mohawk Milling Company, he spent his later years involved in real estate and working on his farm. He was of the Baptist faith and attended First Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Ernest and Swannie Wilde; sister, Faye Ratcliff; and brothers, Stanley and Gene. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Bettye Worley Wilde; his sons, Barry and wife Janelle of Chattanooga, and Blake and special friend Donna Jo Kaupp of Newport; his granddaughters, Blakely, Leica and Adia of Chattanooga; his sister and brother-in-law, Ferne and Bob Ford of Newport; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Bob and Betsy Worley, and Everett and Edna Worley all of Newport; sister-in-law, Alma Wilde of Oak Ridge; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held 8:00 pm Wednesday, May 17, 2006 in Manes Funeral Home Chapel, with Dr, Rich Lloyd and Dr. Charlie Boggan officiating, with interment 10:00 am Thursday, May 18, 2006 in Union Cemetery. The family and friends will receive friends from 6-8 pm Wednesday prior to the funeral.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 17 May 2006.
Well-known real estate entrepreneur dies
By: Duay O'Nei
05-17-2006
NEWPORT-Funeral services are scheduled for 8 p.m. tonight for James Wendell Wilde, well-known real estate entrepreneur and farmer who died Monday at his home following a brief period of declining health.
Wilde was born October 1, 1924, the fourth of five children of the late Ernest and Swannie (Brooks) Wilde, of the Bat Harbor community. As a child, Wendell and his family lived in a log home which stood immediately in back of a larger frame home the family later constructed. This home, which still remains in the family, burned a few years ago and an identical structure was built in its place. As a boy, Wendell, as he was known, was enrolled at Bat Harbor School, which stood near his home. Here his teachers included Vernie Blanchard (later Taylor), Ray Pearce, and Berniece Brooks. An outgoing and fun-loving boy, Wendell later told of the various pranks he and his friends played on their teachers. A favorite story centered around a teacher's instruction to go outside and collect firewood for the potbellied stove which heated the building. When Wendell and his friends added the wood to the fire, they also tossed in a few firecrackers. Following elementary school, Wendell continued his schooling at Cocke County High School, riding the bus driven by Fred "Buzz" Owenby. Longtime friend Jack Clark remembers that Owenby collected him and other students at Edwina, then drove across the country to Bat Harbor where Wendell and his fellow students were waiting. Wendell's love of pranks continued and stories abound about his antics during these years. "He was a wonderful storyteller," recalls Clark, "a man who had a story about everything." Wilde finished high school during World War II, but because of his family's farming operations, he was exempted from service. During this time, Wilde's father purchased the 172-acre farm of Oscar Cates in Edwina, and Wendell and his older brother Gene worked on it to help pay the $11,000 price. Following the senior Wilde's death, he left this property to the two sons whose worked helped secure it. Later Wendell purchased his brother's interest and the property remains in the family's hands today. Wendell's first job away from the farm was that of service station attendant, working for the late Connie Overholt and Jake Wilde, who operated a station in the Art Fisher building on Broadway. In later years, Wendell praised Overholt, whose business acumen was legendary, and credited his employer with teaching him all he knew about business. In addition to their service station business, Overholt and Wilde also sold Dodge and Plymouth automobiles. Wendell purchased a new blue Plymouth from them at about the same time that he became good friends with Sylvia Brown and Betty Lou Worley. These three were among the young folks who gathered at Nelson-Bales Drugstore on Main Street, and Wendell enjoyed taking the girls for a ride in his new car. It was Betty who captured Wendell's heart, and the couple were married 1 June 1952 by Rev. Lowell Milburn at the First Baptist Church parsonage. The newlyweds moved into an apartment at the home of Susie Sweeten on Broadway. While living here, the couple became the parents of their first son, Barry. After working at Enka for three years and at Heywood-Wakefield for a brief time, Wilde was hired by the late J. D. and Lois Sluder, owners of Mohawk Milling Company, as a truck driver. His first duties here included delivering chicken feed to dozens of farmers in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina, often leaving home before daylight and returning in the evenings after his children were in bed. The Sluders quickly realized Wilde's potential and promoted him to a supervisory position. Eventually Wilde became the mill's foreman. When the Sam Rich farm across from Newport City Park was subdivided, the Wildes purchased three lots, building the home now owned by the Vonn Ray Murrells on one of them. "This was our first real estate investment," says Betty. While living here, the Wildes became the parents of their second son, Blake. During this time Wilde began attending land auctions and gradually built up his holdings. "We never had an actual business," says Betty, "and never advertised. It was just by word of mouth. People would learn that we held a certain piece of property and would approach us." After awhile, Wilde began buying property with other people, the first one being Clay Overholt. He later worked with Larry Webb in the same capacity. Barry Wilde recalls that his father was a good environmentalist "before that was cool," a man with a strong sense for the wellbeing of the animals and plants native to the property. "He didn't want any animals to suffer. Once a rabid fox appeared on the farm, and Dad had to shoot it. It hurt him to kill it." Wilde's love of Cocke County and its mountains probably stemmed from his ancestors, who arrived here well over a century ago. According to his wife, "He always said that when night came, he wanted to be able to lie down and see the mountains." A Baptist, he was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Bat Harbor, which stands on land given by his father. He was also a strong Republican, in contrast to his wife's longstanding following of the Democratic party. "He always wanted a girl," laughs his wife, "and when the grandchildren arrived, his wish was finally granted." Three girls - Blakely 16, Leica 12, and Adia, 6 - became the apple of their grandfather's eye. Preceding Wendell in death were his parents and three older siblings - Gene, Stanley, and Faye. The youngest child, Ferne, survives. Wilde's body will be interred in Newport's Union Cemetery tomorrow morning. Manes Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
Name: Wendell Wilde
Titles and Terms:
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 01 Jun 1952
Event Place: Cocke, Tennessee, United States
Age: 27
Birth Year (Estimated): 1925
Father's Name:
Father's Titles and Terms:
Mother's Name:
Mother's Titles and Terms:
Spouse's Name: Betty Lou Worley
Spouse's Titles and Terms:
Spouse's Age: 18
Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated): 1934
Spouse's Father's Name:
Spouse's Father's Titles and Terms:
Spouse's Mother's Name:
Spouse's Mother's Titles and Terms:
Reference ID: 5048
GS Film number: 1928652
Digital Folder Number: 004485967
Image Number: 00531
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