Richard Thomas Wilt, age 69 years, of East Amwell Township, NJ, died suddenly on Friday, March 26, 2021, at Morristown Post Acute Rehabilitation Center, Morristown, NJ.

Born in New York City, NY, October 6, 1951, he was the son of the late John and Margaret Ferrier Wilt. Rich had resided in East Amwell Township for the past thirty-one years, having grown up in North Bergen, NJ and Jacksonville, NC.

A United States Navy veteran of the Vietnam Era, Rich will forever be remembered as the man with a tough exterior but with a heart as tender as the eyes of his baby granddaughter.

He was retired from Data Color, Lawrenceville, NJ, and Johanna Farms, Flemington, NJ, where he worked in procurement and inventory. In his later years, he also worked at Pier One, Flemington, NJ to keep busy.

Having many hobbies, he was very involved with Civil War history and reenactments. He loved collecting bald eagle memorabilia as he appreciated there majesty and strength. It was not just bald eagles that caught Rich’s eyes, as his beer stein collection could rival any European collector’s. He greatly enjoyed puzzles, and there was not a jigsaw puzzle he met which he could not complete. He also enjoyed rooting for his teams, the New Jersey Devils and the New York Giants and Mets.

Above all else, Rich lived for his family. Meeting Wilma DeFazio when the two were working at Stangl Pottery in the 1970’s, the pair hit it off and after nine years of dating married on September 5, 1981 at St. George’s Church in Titusville, NJ. Their union would bring them two sons, Geoffrey and Christopher, who made their Dad proud. Rich worked hard to provide for his family and he was dedicated to ensuring their happiness.

Though his passing was sudden, Rich would want all those to not mourn his absence, but to simply appreciate what is in front of them each and every day, and like the mighty eagle, soar to new heights daily.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, William, Edward, George, John, Jr., and Robert.

Surviving are his wife, Wilma Wilt; a son and daughter-in-law, Christopher Thomas Wilt and Amanda Morris-Wilt; a son, Geoffrey Alexander Wilt; three grandchildren, Nathaniel Morris, his ‘princess’, Kinsley Wilt, and ‘Baby-Boy’ Wilt, due in August of this year; two sisters, RoseMarie Marsh and Margaret Orr; his dogs, Bandit and Starr; several nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family; and many dear friends.

Rich will lie in repose on Thursday, April 1, 2021 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.

Life celebration services officiated by Certified Life Celebrant D.J. Wright will take place on Thursday, April 1, 2021 beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home and to which all are welcome.

Realizing that many people will be unable to attend due to the current pandemic restrictions, the life celebration at 7:00 p.m. will be live-streamed with the following link allowing you to be a part of the services virtually: please click HERE to watch the service (kindly ensure that you do not have a pop-up blocker installed).

Committal words followed by cremation at Somerset Hills Memorial Park, Basking Ridge, NJ, are private.

It is important to remember that given the current state of the pandemic, masks must be worn at all times on funeral home and cemetery grounds, and social distancing must be maintained. Please follow the instructions of the Wright & Ford Care Team Family Ambassadors upon arrival.

You are encouraged to visit Rich’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of his life.

In lieu of flowers, contribution information will also be announced.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”