Charles Lee Wilde

Charles “Charlie” Lee Wilde was born February 23, 1952 at Pawnee Indian Hospital to Dolores Naomi Wilde Williams Riley and Arthur ‘Art’ Lewis Williams. Charlie passed from this life on December 1, 2019 in Pawnee, OK. He is a member of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma. He attended Pawnee Elementary, Grover Cleveland Jr. High and Tulsa Central High School. Charlie joined the Marine Corps in 1970 and served two tours in Vietnam during the conflict as a transport operator and Sergeant. Charlie was a proud Marine, Semper Fi.

Charlie was able to travel extensively during his lifetime. He has been to 47 states and 10 foreign countries. No matter where he went, he kept his Pawnee heritage forefront and at hand. He was extremely proud to be a veteran and a Pawnee warrior. He served the Pawnee Nation in a variety of ways. Charlie was employed as the tribe’s Tribal Operations Manager for several years, he was the Pawnee Drum Keeper, President and Flag Man for the Pawnee Indian Veterans Association, he was secretary of the Pawnee Business Council, and Chief of the Skidi Band of the Pawnee Nation.

He is the grandson of Helen J. Hand Wood Wilde, and Oscar Lee Wilde, Sr. His favorite quotes: “All things in moderation” and “You cannot always get what you want; but if you try, sometimes you get what you need.” Charlie enjoyed going to visit relatives who lived outside of the Town of Pawnee, and took great pride in sharing his heritage and tradition with relatives who came to visit his home in Pawnee. He also enjoyed fishing, football (KC Chiefs), motorcycles, family picnics & holiday meals. He was an artist and loved drawing.

Charlie is survived by his mother, Dolores, his children, Jessi Leigh Wilde, William “Frank” Wilde, Rheanna Ruby Wilde, one granddaughter, Jayla Naomi De la Cruz (Jessi Leigh), his sister, Jennifer Jean Riley Schulze, step-daughter, Jennifer Mulder, Terrance Fields, the mother of his children, Donna Mulder Wilde and a host of relatives and friends who loved him and thought dearly of him. Charlie was preceded in death by his siblings, William “Bill” Arthur Williams, Dennis “Denny” Joseph Williams, John Lewis Powell, Michael “Mike” Eugene Williams, Calvin Wesley Riley Jr., and an infant daughter.