WRIGHT, DONALD EDWARD (DON)

December 23rd, 1936-October 28th, 2018

Donald Edward (Don) Wright, 81, of Red Deer Alberta, passed away suddenly October 28th, 2018 at the Red Deer Regional Hospital.

Don is survived by his children Shelley Saunders (Randy), Cheryl Wright, Reg Wright (Scott), Wendy Mose (Mark), sister Phyllis Wardle (Bob), brother Leonard Wright (Darlene), sister Joanne Wright (Andy), and many nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife Maudie, daughter Karen and brother Bill.
Don was born on December 23, 1936 in Red Deer. He was the 3rd child of Lennie (Taylor) Wright and George Wright. Red Deer and the nearby Shady Nook communities were his home his entire life.

As a child he loved to play baseball, hockey, and basketball. Don also loved to fish and hunt. He grew up in a time in Red Deer when many families were struggling through the depression and the 2nd World War. For several of those years, his father George was overseas in the war. Even though these were difficult times, Don often shared many of his fond childhood memories as well as his great admiration for his mom and how she managed through those years with so little. When his father came home from the war Lennie and George eventually had two more children, Leonard and Joanne (Jody).

Don was never afraid of hard work and started as a young boy searching for ways to make a few dollars, clearing the ice at the rink, trapping, working at the carnival etc.

At 16, job prospects seemed slim, so Don joined the Navy at HMCS Tecumseh Royal Canadian Navy reserve division. He was sent from Calgary to HMCS Cornwallis in Halifax. Here he made many lifelong friends, but his career in the Navy was cut short when he contracted Rubella which resulted in damaged kidneys and a medical discharge.
Returning to Red Deer and reconnecting with his many childhood friends resulted in him finding the love of his life, Maudie Kellington. Don and Maudie were married in May of 1958 and lived in Red Deer for the first 4 years. They moved to the Shady Nook area in the fall of 1962, bringing a 4 room house and two young daughters with them; Shelley, 19 months and Cheryl, 7 months. Don worked as a journeyman plumber and gas fitter at the time for DeGrood Brothers Plumbing in Red Deer. In 1964 their son Reg was born. This filled their little 4 room house completely. In May of the same year, Don left the plumbing trade and started working at the Red Deer Post Office.
In the spring of 1966 Don and Maudie remodeled their house, adding 2 bedrooms and enlarging the kitchen. April of 1967 brought them a baby girl, their 3rd daughter, Wendy. December of 1969 their 5th child was born, another girl, Karen, and once again their house was filled to capacity. Over the 40 years they lived in Shady Nook they also tried their hand at raising pigs, a few cattle and some hens. They also took pride in their bountiful garden and beautiful yard. In 1991, Don retired from the post office after almost 30 years.

In 2002 Don and Maudie moved to Red Deer when Maudie was diagnosed with lung cancer. They built a house in Aspen Ridge. Their youngest daughter, Karen, passed away in September of 2003 and Maudie, after a long courageous battle with cancer passed away on January 2, 2007. Don continued to live the last 11 years in Red Deer in his own home. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather and will be missed greatly by his family of all generations and his many friends.

The family would like to thank the Red Deer Emergency Services and Doctor Sweeney and her medical team at the Red Deer Regional Hospital for the special care and compassion they gave to Don and his family on his final day.
A Memorial Service for Don will be held on Saturday, November 3rd, 2018 at 1:00PM at the Sunnybrook United Church, 12 Stanton Street, Red Deer, Alberta.

In lieu of flowers, any donations made directly to the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, 2888 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A8 would be very much appreciated.

Condolences may be left for the family at www.eventidefuneralchapel.com

• Date : 2018-10-28
• Location : Red Deer