Jack Wilbur Slider

Jack Wilbur Slider

October 3, 1945 ~ April 10, 2024

Jack Wilbur Slider was surrounded by his children when he went home to be with the Lord on April 10, 2024. Jack was born at home on October 3, 1945 in Alliance, Ohio to Velma (Hoover) and Slathiel Slider. He was the youngest of nine children and raised in the beautiful farming country of northeast Ohio. As a boy, Jack had many adventures with his siblings. He loved fishing, helping local farmers and playing in the creek. He was loved by all in the township he grew up in. Jack graduated from Minerva High School in 1963. In September of 1965, at the age of nineteen, he joined the Marine Corps to serve and fight in the Vietnam War. Jack was very proud of his service to our country, as are we. On one of his leaves to California he met his first wife, Carolyn Smith and settled after the war in Bakersfield, California. There Jack began the next part of his life. In this marriage of 21 years, he had his two children, Missy (Melinda) and JT (Jack). Jack attended Bakersfield college for a time and in this acquired his love for the developing computer industry. During his years spent living in Bakersfield, Jack worked for ABDick, Superior Farms and then went on to become a local business owner as a bookkeeper and tax preparer. Jack took great pride in and loved tax work, he went on to spend many years in this industry. 

In the next season of his life he met his partner and best friend Sandra (Sandi) Payne. They loved their adventures together and lived in many places over the years. From Bakersfield, to northern California’s  hill country, to several of Denver, Colorado’s suburbs. In Jack’s later years, they settled in a house they bought in Bodfish, California where they loved to ride their Gold Wing together. There they owned his last tax preparation/booking keeping business together and enjoyed living in their mountain community. Jack loved working at the National  Parks, going on motorcycle rides, hiking and fishing in the Sierra and Rocky mountains with Sandi. He found peace in the pine forests of his beloved mountains. Jack never knew a stranger and had a contagious smile, he loved people and making friends along his life’s journey. Jack was known in the communities that he lived in as a helpful, kind and giving person who was always ready to lend a hand. 

Jack leaves behind his daughter Melinda (Don) Massey and his son Jack T (Allison) Slider. He was so proud of and loved being a grandpa and great grandpa. He is survived by his eight grandchildren- Carolynne Redick, Janet (Matthew) Pennington, Amber (Odilon) Lozano , Don Jr  (Victoria) Massey, Lauren Slider, JJ Merritt-Slider, Jack R Slider and Sydney Slider and his ten great grandchildren that adored and loved their great grandpa. He is also survived by his sister Jane (Eugene) Stoffer, his twin sisters, Alice Moore and Anna Gambone, many nephews, nieces,  Sandra Payne and his Colorado grandchildren and family who loved their “Jackie Bear” and Papa. Jack was preceded in death by his mom Velma Hoover Slider, his dad Slathiel Henry Slider, his brothers, Roy Karlen, Jay Karlen, Wayne Karlen, Jim Slider and his sister Doris Ruth. 

We, his family, want to extend our deepest, most heartfelt gratitude to Golden Living and Kern River Transitional Care (KRTC)  facilities for loving dad well during his years in their care and especially to KRTC for taking such wonderful care of our father during his final days with us.

Old Rugged Cross 

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;

Its shame and reproach gladly bear;

Then He’ll call me someday to my home far away,

Where His glory forever I’ll share.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

And exchange it someday for a crown. 

His Smile 

Though his smile is gone forever, 

And his hand I can not touch, 

I still have so many memories, 

Of the one I loved so much. 

His memory is my keepsake, 

With which I’ll never part. 

God has him in His keeping,

I have him in my heart. 

Sadly missed, but never forgotten.