Donald Wilgus Sr.

ORAN, Mo. -- Donald Eugene Wilgus Sr., 87, of Oran passed away Wednesday, April 12, 2017, at his home.

He was born March 16, 1930, in Huntington, West Virginia, and was the son of Fred Wilgus and Elsie Rucker Wilgus. He married Pamela June Todt on July 9, 1988, in Oran. She survives.

Don served in the Army in 1951 as a platoon guide. After serving his country, he began his own custom home-construction business.

Donald graduated from Ohio State University in 1961, where he majored in industrial technology. He began a long and successful teaching career spanning over 40 years in Scottsdale, Arizona. When he was a teacher, his students built an apartment complex, in addition to numerous other projects. Donald also built a church and a laundromat. He taught the skills of carpentry, plumbing, electrical, bricklaying, woodworking and working with metals. In his later career, he taught architectural and engineering drafting as well as computer-aided drafting.

Don was an avid golfer and sailor. He thoroughly enjoyed sports of all varieties. He played basketball and was undefeated in tennis at Ohio State.

He is survived by his son, Donald Eugene Wilgus Jr. of Shelbyville, Tennessee; brother, Jim (Margaret) Wilgus of Crown City, Ohio; brother-in-law, Leo Scarberry of Proctorville, Ohio; sister, Patricia Neithhammer of Dover, Delaware; and nephews, Jim Wilgus Jr. of Huntington and Steve Neithhammer of Philadelphia.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Rudella Scarberry.

Visitation will begin at 4 p.m. Easter Sunday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Oran.

Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the chapel, with the Rev. Elijah Allen officiating. Burial will be at Friends Cemetery in Oran.

Memorial donations may be given to Options for Women in Cape Girardeau or to Crown Hospice of Cape Girardeau.

Online condolences may be made at www.amick-burnettfuneralchapels.com.