On April 17, 2024, Dean E. Wildrick, 86, passed away peacefully at Olean General Hospital after a brief illness. Lately living at Eden Heights in Olean, he was otherwise a lifelong resident of Cuba NY.

The beloved child of Harold E. and Hilda J. (Williams) Wildrick, Dean was born in Cuba Memorial Hospital on August 21, 1937. Dean graduated from Cuba Central School in 1955 and continued on to Rochester Institute of Technology, where he graduated in 1960 with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. He attended Syracuse University for one year of a Master’s program but paused his studies to begin a career at ACME Electric as a mechanical engineer in Cuba NY.

After twenty years at ACME, he changed careers in 1981 to begin a new opportunity: teaching computer languages and computer aided design at SUNY Alfred, one of the cutting-edge programs in the country at the time. While at Alfred he completed his Masters Degree from Alfred University. He retired from Alfred State in 2000 with a rank of Associate Professor.

On December 28, 1971, he married Cheryl Susann Franklin, who survives Dean designed and built himself their home on Jackson Hill Road where they raised their family. Also surviving Dean are a daughter Dawn (Jeremy) Wildrick-Cole of Almond, a son Dwane Wildrick (Trina Allen) of Philipsburg, PA, grandsons Sidney and Sam Wildrick-Cole and cousin Brian Armstrong of Lyndon NY. He is predeceased by his parents, an infant sister Dianna Leigh, and infant daughter DeAnn Eve, and a grandson Charles Wildrick-Cole.

Dean’s life was one of service to his family, his community and his church. He served on various committees of the United Methodist Church, at the local, conference and jurisdictional level. He was a farmer at heart and loved his land and the various animals that were a part of the family farm over the years. His interests were in antique gas engines, making maple syrup and working on his land, especially in the woods. He was cutting his own firewood well into his eighties. Dean was also a pilot, and earned his private, commercial and instructor license. Though he hadn’t flown a plane since 1978, he maintained his DEW airpark and his licenses with pride, and would often remark on a beautiful spring day: “it’s a good day for flying!”.

 Dean did not like being the center of attention, and per his wishes, a brief calling hour for family and friends will be held at Mark F. Rinker Funeral Home & Memorial Service, Inc., 9 Bull Street, Cuba on Sunday, April 21, 2024 from 4pm to 5pm, with funeral service to follow.

Burial will be private in the Cuba Memorial Cemetery.

Memorial contributions in memory of Dean are appreciated, made to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) at umcmission.org, where Dean volunteered and donated during his lifetime.