George Wilding

George DeWayne Wilding

December 24, 1933 ~ June 1, 2016

On June 1, 2016, sweet father, loyal husband, and esteemed community leader, George DeWayne Wilding, died at the age of 82. Born December 24, 1933, in Rexburg, Idaho, George wasn’t diagnosed as being deaf until the age of nine. He then attended the Idaho School for the Deaf in Gooding, Idaho, where he graduated in 1950. He also attended Madison High School in Rexburg and graduated in 1951.

George attended Gallaudet College (University) in Washington, DC, where he met his sweetheart Eula Louise Wingard (Louise/Winnie). They were married on September 22, 1956, and lived in Washington, DC, and Rupert, Idaho, before settling in Ogden, Utah. George and Louise had four beloved daughters. Louise died in July 1977.

In 1978, George married Sophia Lowe and gained a much-loved son, Jason, through their marriage. George and Sophia divorced in 1996.

George married Ruth Ann Hutchinson in September of 2005 and was married to Ruth Ann until his death.

George owned his own print shop, Wilding Print Shop, in Rupert, Idaho, taught printing at the Utah School for the Deaf, and worked as a mailer for the Salt Lake Tribune before retiring.

Aside from his family, George’s passion was sports. He became an All-American basketball player, a licensed referee and umpire, a successful coach, a bowling champion, a sponsor of sports teams through his printing business, and through the American Athletic Association of the Deaf (AAAD), was the guiding force in the establishment of the first men’s and then women’s national softball tournaments.

George served as President of the Northwest Athletic Association of the Deaf (NWAAD) for seven years, and as AAAD Vice President and Chairman of the Law Committee for seven terms, longer than any person in AAAD history. He was elected to the AAAD Hall of Fame twice: once as a player and once as a leader. Even more memorably, George was a legendary storyteller and renowned for his sense of humor.

George is survived by his wife, Ruth Ann; his five children: Susie (Patrick), Laurie (John), Melainie (William), Jenny (Brett), and Jason; and his ten grandchildren: AJ, Ryan, Griffin, Alison, Will, Jack, Janessa, Willa, Charlie, and Jamie. He is also survived by his brother, Jerry, and many members of extended family. George was preceded in death by his parents, David DeWayne (Dane/DD) and Yordis Wilding; his first wife, Eula Louise; and his sisters, Dawnaline Wilding and Kay Wilding.

Family, friends, and others whose lives George touched are invited to Lindquist's Roy Mortuary, 3333 West 5600 South from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, June 20, 2016, to reminisce and share memories. A memorial service will be held at the LDS branch, 5640 South 850 East, Washington Terrace, on June 21, 2016 at 10 a.m.  George's ashes will be buried in the Sugar City Cemetery, Sugar City, Idaho, alongside his first wife.