William Arthur Wilde

William Arthur Wilde (Wilde Bill), 75, died peacefully in his home in Denver on Saturday, July 26, 2014, due to complications from prostate cancer. Bill was born June 16, 1939, in New Orleans, LA to William Henry Wilde and Elizabeth Evva (Owens) Wilde. He was raised in Atlanta, GA. In 1963 he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He then served two years in the US Army in Germany as a second lieutenant in the Army Ordinance Corps. A lifelong passion for a new form of transportation, personal rapid transit (PRT), led him to earn a Master's Degree in Civil Engineering in 1972 from the University of Maryland. In the late 1960s, Bill was employed by Boeing, Lockheed, and Cape Canaveral. This experience fostered a lifelong interest in aviation. Bill moved to Denver in 1973 and began a forty-year career in transportation engineering. He worked for the Regional Transportation District where he was project engineer for the Denver 16th Street Transit Mall project. He also worked with the consulting firms of Carter Burgess and CRSS. Bill retired early but continued consulting on transportation engineering projects such as PRT and the elevated pedestrian bridges in Las Vegas, NV. In 1988 Bill built an ultralight airplane, joined Freewings of Denver, and flew local and intrastate flights for over twenty years. He participated in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado, and was active in Trinity United Methodist Church. Wilde Bill's love of traveling began in a Volkswagen Beetle during his military service in Europe, and he continued to travel throughout his life. He purchased a motorcycle in his late sixties and joined the Colorado Mountain Club in 2010. He led an active, interesting life until his health declined in 2013. Bill formed life-long friendships in all stages of his life, and he was respected, well-liked, and well-loved by family, friends, and colleagues. Although he never married, he served as honorary grandfather and uncle to the children of several friends and neighbors. He faced his declining health with humor, courage, and grace. Bill is survived by his brother Richard (Beverly) Wilde of Macon, GA, his nephew Michael (Patrice) Wilde of Arden, NC, and his niece Donna (Les) Jones of Macon, GA. He was preceded in death by his parents. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 13, 2014, at 10:00 AM at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1820 Broadway in Denver. Rev. Michael Dent and Rev. Linda Marshall will preside. Bill's ashes will be buried in his mother's family plot in Heflin, AL. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Denver Hospice. Bill's friends and family are thankful for the excellent care he received from the staffs at both Denver Hospice and Kaiser Permanente. Please share your memories of Bill and condolences with his family by signing the guestbook.