We mourn the passing of Retired Journeyman Inside Wireman Irving Wilder, who was 96 years old, and had been a Local 569 member for over 73 years.
Brother Wilder was 23 years old, when he began his wireman’s apprenticeship in April 1946. He was allowed to take his Oath of Obligation In August 1946. During this era, apprentices were allowed to spend their entire apprenticeship at one “shop”, for during these post-war boom years, shops were tasked to build both commercial and residential, in equal numbers. In Brother Irving’s case, his tutorial shop was North Park Electric. (The below photo shows the heart of North Park, as it looked when Irving served his apprenticeship). After he became a journeyman, he worked for Martinolich Electric. Two and a half years “in”, another opportunity presented itself, and Irving left town for two months. Upon his return to San Diego, it was back to North Park Electric, where he’d spend three more years. The rest of his career would be spent working at: CALEWO, Sierra (2 dispatches), Bice Electric (2 dispatches), Ling-Oliver (which later morphed into Oliver Electric), Mac Electric, and South Bay Electric, where he’d spend over ten years. His last dispatch would be to Chula Vista Electric, in 1978. Irving decided to apply for his pensions in 1984. Local 569 retired member, Donald Wilder (also a Journeyman Inside Wireman) is Irving’s son.
Services will be this Thursday, Sept. 12th, at 1 PM, in the Salli Lynn Chapel, at Greenwood Memorial Cemetery, 4300 Imperial Ave., San Diego, CA 92113. As you enter the grounds, the Salli Lynn is the first building you’ll see on your right.
