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Barbara Wilder
January 1, 1934 ~ May 3, 2013
Barbara Wilder, probably best known in Temecula as a tireless community rights leader and activist, passed away on Friday, May 3, 2013 from complications from lymphoma. She was 79. Wilder, the wife of Emmy nominated television writer and producer, Myles Wilder, moved with her husband to Temecula in 1994. Shortly after her arrival, she became embroiled in multi-year environmental and legal battle against San Diego Gas and Electric who was trying to build giant transmission towers through the hills and neighborhoods of Temecula. Along with other Temecula residents and activists, Wilder founded Save Southwest Riverside County (SSRC) and served as President. Working with local home owners’ associations as well as the Temecula City Council, Wilder and SSRC raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to hire a top notch environmental law firm to take the battle to the state level. They were ultimately awarded a stunning victory against the power giant when state officials blocked SDGE’s proposed powerline project once and for all. After a brief respite, Wilder again became involved in a second, environmental and legal battle, this time in 2004 against Granite Construction and their proposed Liberty Quarry Project. As co-chair of Save Our Southwest (SOS) Hills, Wilder and her team led an aggressive, seven year-long battle against the multi-billion dollar mining company which finally culminated when the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians purchased the mining site and ended the long and contentious battle. Wilder was born Barbara Helen Pryor in Portland, OR in 1934. She moved to Southern California as a young girl and attended Hollywood High School. She then went on to Occidental College (alma mater of Barack Obama) for two years and later graduated from UCLA with a degree in English. She married Myles Wilder, whom she met at Occidental, in 1956. Also a published author, Wilder co-wrote a French cookbook, Pates for Kings and Commoners, (Hawthorn, 1977). She is survived by daughter Kimberly Wilder, a writer and former entertainment industry executive and Murrieta resident, and two grandchildren, Olivia and Morgan Lee. Services will be held Friday, May 10th at 10:00 AM in the Temecula City Council Chambers at City Hall.
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My prayers to Bobbie’s family, she was a great person. Her mother Helen and my mother Nancy Curtis met while they were living in Encino, CA and became great friends until my mother’s death in 1990. So sad to hear but she had a wonderful life. Earlier this year I found that Bobbie lived in Temecula and thought about contacting her, this proves that you should act on your instincts. May she rest in peace and the family be supported by wonderful memories.jj