Alan Stanley Wilder, 94, formerly of Chester

Alan “Al” Stanley Wilder, 94, of Peterborough, N.H., passed away peacefully on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. He was predeceased by his parents, Burl Alton Wilder and Ernestine Young Wilder; his sisters Marjorie Lou Ross and Phyllis Wilson; and his wife, Elizabeth “Betsy” Stiles Wilder.

Al and his wife of 67 years, Betsy, lived in Chester, for decades, where Al was owner and president of Green Mountain Log Homes and Weird Wood. He was a Mason, served in the Chester Rotary, and was an active alumnus of Oakwood Friends School and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Al grew up in Wethersfield, Conn. A graduate of Oakwood, RPI, and Union College, he trained as a metallurgical engineer. After his U.S. Army service as a second lieutenant at the Springfield, Mass., Armory, where he was a distinguished marksman, Al worked in engineering roles in a series of companies before settling in Chester in the Granville and Aurora Spaulding House in the Stone Village. In Chester, Al ran his company and together with Betsy, raised their three children. In later years, Betsy and Al moved to the RiverMead community of Peterborough, N.H., where Al shared his good humor with neighbors and staff, up to his final days.

Al is survived by his sister, Ruth Goodier of Franklin, N.C.; his children Diane Wilder (Fred Marshall) of Rochester, N.Y.; David Wilder (Nancy Foley Wilder) of Groton, Mass.; and Lane Wilder (Clif Kussmaul) of Bethlehem, Penn. He leaves seven grandchildren and step-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. He also leaves Raymond Reynolds of Keene, N.H., his fishing buddy and best friend of 90 years.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Al’s memory to  Springfield Hospital, either by clicking here or by send a check to Springfield Hospital, P.O. Box 2003, Springfield, VT 05156; the Chester-Andover Family Center, either by clicking here or sending your gift to CAFC, P.O. Box 302, Chester, VT 05143;, or the charity of your choice.