David P. Wilber (1937–2025)
A Life of Discovery, Beauty, and Exquisite Taste in Collecting
David P. Wilber, a lifelong seeker of beauty, rare treasures, and truth passed away peacefully at the age of 87. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1937, he was the youngest of eight children and is survived by an older brother Bill and two sisters-in-law in California.
David’s early years were shaped by loss and responsibility, leaving high school to care for his mother after his father’s passing. Drawn to nature from a young age, he began collecting rocks, which blossomed into a lifelong passion for uncovering the rare and the extraordinary. Gifted with a keen eye for detail and an appreciation for creation’s beauty, David developed one of the world’s most admired private collections of gemstones and mineral crystals by the early 1970s.
In 1978, David married Dianne Gunder, a colleague from his years at Prudential Life Insurance. They raised three children in the picturesque town of Ouray, Colorado, where David developed a deep appreciation for the beauty of the surrounding mountains and a keen interest in the area’s rich mining history. Though the marriage ended after 11 years, David’s passion for collecting only deepened.
David’s pursuit of excellence extended beyond minerals, leading him to collect a variety of other treasures and create several other world-class collections, including paperweights, agates, and railroad china. In the 1990s and into the 2000s, he immersed himself in the world of antique barber bottles, captivated by their craftsmanship and history. David’s meticulous search for rare and exquisite pieces led to a collection unparalleled in its breadth and quality, becoming a treasured contribution to the field and a testimony to his unrelenting dedication.
Continuing into the 2000s in Tucson, Arizona, his love of collecting expanded including Fabergé, Imperial jade, petrified wood, Dreher animal carvings, Jon Anderson Fimo Polymer clay animal creations, both antique and contemporary glass, among other collections that fascinated David.
So highly regarded was his international reputation for acquiring only the finest of anything, Dave was regularly called upon by numerous major museums and other private connoisseurs from all over the world for his expert opinion. He traveled all over the world seeking the rarest, finest, highest quality pieces, and paid record prices and consistently bid against every bidder at auctions. He drove prices up, increasing interest in several different hobbies. He made such a tremendous impact in the Fine Mineral Collecting world that, to this day, he is the only individual to which a Fine Mineral attribute has been named. A, “Wilber” on a Fine Mineral specimen describes an almost imperceptible defect, flaw or damage on a crystal. Although not actively collecting in the gem and mineral business, for many years he hosted “What’s Hot in Tucson”, a visual tour of the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, highlighting exceptional finds and offering insights into the mineral world.
David’s life was marked by deep focus, discernment, and a desire to surround himself with beauty and meaning. Though his journey as a father was not always close, the last years of David’s life brought a quiet transformation. In 2019, having relocated from Tucson, Arizona to Orem, Utah, David met with missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Touched by the message of the restored gospel, he chose to enter into the covenant path through baptism on June 29 of that year, embracing the hope and peace found in Jesus Christ.
In 2020, he moved to Spanish Fork, Utah, to live with his eldest daughter, where he was surrounded by the beautiful works of art he had lovingly collected over decades. He faced the challenges of dementia with a calm spirit and a gentle heart. In those final years, he grew more present, more at peace, and often expressed gratitude for the care and kindness shown to him. In October 2024, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. True to his resilient spirit, he remained largely unaware of his illness until just a week before his passing, when he began experiencing abdominal pain, nausea, and a rapid decline. He passed away peacefully at home on April 14, 2025, surrounded by loved ones.
David is survived by his children, Debbie (& Brandon) Wilkinson of Spanish Fork, Utah, Laura Perzinski, of Evergreen, Colorado, and John (& Alli) Wilber of Kiowa, Colorado as well as eleven grandchildren.
He will be remembered not only for his discerning eye, refined taste, and contributions to the world of fine collecting, but for the lasting impact he had on those around him. His legacy lives on in the beauty he preserved, the family who loves him, and the eternal truths he came to embrace. We rejoice in the knowledge that families are eternal, and that David’s spirit lives on, continuing his journey in the presence of a loving Heavenly Father.
A visitation will be held Saturday, May 3, 2025 from 11:30 am – 12:00 pm at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 870 E Canyon Rd, Spanish Fork UT 84660.
A funeral service will Follow at 12:00pm.
Interment will be at the Spanish Fork City Cemetery
Leave a Condolence