Richard Alan Wildonger

Richard Alan Wildonger, 78, of Landenberg, PA passed away on July 12, 2024. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend who will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Rich was born on July 2, 1946, in Easton, PA. He was the son of Francis and Arline (Hindenach) Wildonger. He was a Boy Scout and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. After graduating from Wilson High School, he went on to study chemistry at Bucknell University where he was in TKE fraternity. He earned a B.S. from Bucknell and a Master’s Degree from University of Delaware.  At Bucknell, he was a member of ROTC and went on to serve in the U.S. Army earning the rank of First Lieutenant before being honorably discharged in 1973. He went to work as a medicinal research chemist at what was then Atlas Chemical Company, where he worked his entire career through twelve company name changes and was awarded several patents. He was a lifetime member of the American Chemical Society (ACS), publishing many papers in peer-reviewed journals. In 1999, he received the Astra Zeneca Research and Development Director’s Award for Creativity and Innovation. He was the recipient of the Pioneer in Laboratory Robotics Award given by the International Symposium on Laboratory Automation and Robotics (ISLAR). Later in his career he was a founding member of the robotics start up team for Astra Zeneca in Boston, where he spent the remainder of his career until his retirement as a Principal Scientist in 2006.

Rich was passionate about music. At the age of 7 he began playing the piano, later becoming the organist/pianist at New Ark United Church of Christ in Newark, DE for over 40 years. He was also the director of the Newark Deltones Barbershop Quartet. Alongside music, another passion of his was aviation, leading him to pursue his private pilot’s license and joining the AOPA. Rich loved to tinker, with the remarkable ability to fix almost anything and finding enjoyment in working on everything from cars to pipe organs.

But more than anything, Rich was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He loved traveling to the southwest regularly with his wife, Linda, and the annual family trip to Brigantine Beach, NJ with their children and grandchildren. He loved flying his drone on the beach and riding the log flume and Ferris wheel with the grandkids on the Ocean City Boardwalk.

Rich is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Linda Meiss Wildonger, his children, Jeff Wildonger (Karen Schuler) of Bear, DE, and Cristi Hahn (Brian Hahn) of Atglen, PA, his grandchildren, Maya, Cowan and Arden Hahn and his sister, Sally Dietterick (Gary Dietterick) of Easton, PA. He leaves behind many friends and as a Friend of Bill W. touched many lives.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, August 2 at 6:30 pm at New Ark United Church of Christ, 300 E. Main St., Newark, DE with visitation from 5:30 pm until time of service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Fulton Theatre, 12 N. Prince St., Lancaster, PA or New Ark United Church of Christ.