Donald Eugene Wethington, son of the late Hudson Wethington and Bertha Condict Wethington was born on May 12, 1943 in Essex, Missouri and departed this life on December 22, 2018 at his home in Bloomfield at the age of 75.  Don died suddenly of a heart attack while he was out working in the yard.

After graduating from Grayridge High School in 1961, he served in the United States Navy until 1965.  When he left the Navy he said he was going to go back to Missouri, work for Southwestern Bell Telephone, and marry his “Glory”. And that’s what he did, just like he always did what he said he would do.  He worked at Southwestern Bell Telephone for 33 years, starting as a lineman and ending as a manager.  He retired in 1999 and has spent the last 19 years “going places” with his wife and kids and grandkids.

On April 30, 1966 he was united in Holy Matrimony with his sweetheart, Gloria Rainwater Wethington, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dexter.  Mrs. Wethington survives of their home in Bloomfield.  Little did he know, he was also going to join the Roman Catholic Church.  Mr. Wethington was a parishioner at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dexter where he served as lector and extraordinary minister of the Eucharist.  He had celebrated Christmas Midnight Mass for 52 years in a row. This year he will be there on the other side.

Besides his wife he is survived by three daughters, Lisa Pulley and husband Tim of Bloomfield, Tara Halcomb and husband Tim of Fordland, Missouri and Sharon Slayton and husband Steve of Fairdealing, Missouri; by one step-son, Jay Yourch and wife Kim of Raleigh, North Carolina; by one brother, M.B. Wethington; by one sister, Linda Curtis; by eleven grandchildren, Matthew and wife Cassy Pulley, Megan and husband Aron Henson, Michael and wife Rebecca Pulley, Mason Pulley, Briget Cooper, Brittany and husband Jeff Micke, Courtney Slayton, Derek Slayton, Abby Slayton, Kathryn Yourch, and Andrew Yourch; and by five great-grandchildren, Emmitt Pulley, Asher Pulley, Amelia Pulley, Collin Henson and Baby Micke; one brother- and six sisters-in-law; numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews; and by lots and lots and lots of “adopted” sons and daughters who learned from him what a Daddy’s love looks like and feels like.

Besides his parents he was preceded in death by seven siblings, Glenn, Paul and Polly (Clanton), Russ, Fred, Elzie, and David Wethington; and by one grandchild, Mackenzie Pulley.

Friends may call at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dexter on Wednesday, December 26, 2018 from 9:30 A.M. until 10:30 A.M. 

Funeral Mass will then be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father William Hennecke officiating.  Interment will follow at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield with full Military Honors.

Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of all arrangements.