By NASA Biosatellite Project Manager, 35 year resident of Los Altos and recent resident of Sunnyvale, died Saturday, Nov. 9, 2002 at Stanford Hospital. Charles was born in Opelousas, Louisiana on January 31, 1923.
He attended Louisiana State University (LSU) where he received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1943. He also attended the University of Maryland and took graduate courses in engineering and mathematics 1947-49. Charles was a member of the LSU staff doing research on the ionosphere and radio propagation 1943-44. He served at the U.S. Naval Ordnance Laboratory, White Oaks, Maryland from 1944-61 as a Systems Engineer and Project Manager for several large anti-submarine warfare ordnance projects. While in Washington, DC, he met his wife, Frances Brand Qualls. From 1961-63 Charles was the Manager of Program Management at General Precision, Inc. Librascope Division, in Redlands, CA. He was also Manager of Missile Systems Design for the U.S. Air Force program at Aerospace Corp., 1963-65. Charles followed his dream to become part of the Space program in 1965 and moved to Los Altos where he was NASA/AMES Biosatellite Project Manager. Charles led the Biosatellite program which was the first major effort in the U.S. to exploit the excellent opportunity offered by earth-orbital missions to obtain a better understanding of basic biological life in space. His greatest accomplishments include developing the MK 48 torpedo, overseeing the development of the Athena missile, conducting research into the effects weightlessness on living organisms for the space program and sending the first monkey, Bonnie, into earth orbit for research applied to the U.S. Manned-Space program. Charles Biosatellite program was so beneficial to the U.S. Manned-Space program that Biosatellite is now exhibited in the National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC. Charles completed a distinguished career with NASA and moved back to Washington, DC to serve the Nation on President Nixon’s 1970’s Economic Stabilization Program as a pay board member. In retirement, Charles, became an avid wine maker, wonderful Cajun chef, gardener, a great supporter of his grandchildren and St. Francis High School football. He is survived by his daughters, Ella Mayon and Wendy Wilson, his three grandchildren, Christopher, Michael and Courtney and son in law, Michael Mayon.
A memorial was held on November 23, 2002 at the Mayon home. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made, on behalf of Charles, to a charity of your choice.
WILDER, Mary J.,
She was born on her family’s ranch, the Cloverdale Stock Farm, near the town of Odell in northwest Texas in 1921. She was the eighth of nine Collins’ children and was the last surviving sibling. Her large family was known for their musical ability and gospel singing throughout their community. Horses were a lifelong love of hers.
Mary met her husband, Troy, in May of 1942 while she was attending Business College in Wichita Falls, Texas and he was stationed at Sheppard Field, a nearby US Army Air Corps base. They were married on July 4, 1943 at the military chapel in Greensboro, North Carolina. Mrs. Wilder was employed in the US Army Intelligence Office for two years in Greensboro.
Following World War II, Mary and Troy moved to California and lived in Los Altos for nearly 40 years, where her husband was a FBI Resident Agent. She volunteered in many community activities including scouting, PTA, and FBI wives. Mary was an active member of Union Presbyterian Church of Los Altos for 38 years, serving her Lord by teaching Sunday school, holding several leadership positions in the church and as an officer of the United Presbyterian Women. Gardening, canning, baking, sewing and needlework, along with golf games with Troy, filled her leisure hours. The arrival of grandchildren made her retirement years truly golden, hours were spent baby-sitting and as they grew, supporting their chosen pathways.
Mrs. Wilder is survived by her husband of 59 years, Troy, children, Sandra and Cliff Coolidge, Carolyn and Dan Purdy, and Russell and Silvia Wilder and six grandchildren. Her family was the center of her life, she always had a kind word for others, her work ethic was boundless - she was a loved and gracious Southern lady who had the wonderful gifts of hospitality and care giving.
A private family burial service was held at Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto.
The family requests any memorial gifts to honor Mary be made to the Union Presbyterian Church or Pathways Hospice Services (Formerly Mid Peninsula), 201 San Antonio Circle, Suite 135, Mountain View, CA 94040.
BALDWIN Albert Merle,
Albert is survived by his daughter, Patricia Ann Baldwin, his son-in-law, Paul Kenneth Wolber, his granddaughters, Rachael Ann Baldwin Wolber and Rebecca Rose Baldwin Wolber, all of Los Altos and his sister, Peggy Baldwin Michaud of Tucson, Arizona. He was laid to rest at Camp Ground Cemetery in Hampton, Arkansas, next to his wife, Mary Sue Wood Baldwin, a native of Hampton.
HARGIS, Erma,
Private family services were held. Arrangements under the direction of the Los Altos chapel of Spangler Mortuaries, 399 So. San Antonio Road, Los Altos. Donations to the charity of your choice, preferred.
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