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age 73. He was survived by his former wife, from whom he had been divorced for several years, a son and daughter and one brother. Burial was in Greenlawn Memorial Park, Riverside, California. 

Wildman was nicknamed "Doc" during his youth because of a young M.D. who lived with his parents, and this remained with him for the rest of his life.

Flying Pioneer Francis A. Wildman certainly had a fabulous aviation career. Starting at almost its very beginning, few men contributed more to American aviation history. He devoted his leftime to its early developments, and as one of the members of that small renowned group who helped Glenn Curtiss [[strikethrough]] to [[/strikethrough]] achieve fame and fortune, he richly deserves everlasting credit. He was undoubtedly one of the most famous of early instructors and made the statement later in his life that while he did not have a positive total record, he believed he had taught about two thousand civilian and military aviators to fly, many of whom went on to become leading figures in the world of flight. Since the greater part of his aviation career was on development testing and instructing, he did not receive the publicity and renown enjoyed by the celebrated exhibition pilots at that time, but few men indeed could match the accomplishments of this modest man who truly deserves a very special place in the Aviation Hall of Fame.