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Donald Wale Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Donald Wale
2 Entries
Laura Russo
October 27, 2008
My name is Laura Russo. My Aunt Josie asked me to say a few words about my Uncle Don.
I think the first thing everyone will think about when they think of my Uncle Don is his big, easy smile and a twinkle in his eye. You would get the smile, greeting you the minute he would see you. It would probably be followed up soon after with a quick joke. Really when it came down to it, all Uncle Don wanted to do was always make you smile.
There was always a good story. His life was rich with experiences, he pursued his interests wholeheartedly and his interests inspired. I wanted to see the places he really liked. As a child, I looked forward to the charm or souvenir and the stories my aunt and uncle would always bring me from their travels. When I was a younger, stories would also be about the garage and his regular customers, over the years there were many good talks about cars, later his beloved fishing club, bus driving, dogs and even just the updates on current events. The underlying theme to all his stories is that he clearly undertook all of his work and hobbies with such love, interest and great care. He wouldn’t have had all those good and regular customers if it wasn’t for excellence and attention to detail. There were truly sweet stories from the bus. I am sure the kids missed him tremendously, as much as he missed them, when he was unable to keep driving the bus…Kids really know how to spot a great person when they have a chance to experience such genuine caring.
My Uncle Don was a wonderful and loving husband. He married my Aunt Josie on January 29 1966 and they accepted my parents request to be my godparents the following year. My Uncle Don built a beautiful life with my aunt over the past 42 years. He had a magnificent love for my aunt that even strangers couldn’t help but notice. In the last year or so, it’s always something I wanted to express to him and thank him for…for being such a tremendous husband to my Auntie Josie, for sharing all that surrounds such a beautiful marriage…but that was just not something that worked easily into a conversation. In the most unassuming way he was always such a good example of the qualities that one would look for in finding a solid partner in life. In fact, many of the themes I thought about in writing the words for today reminded me of when I wrote my own wedding vows. Uncle Don always made a beautiful home and backyard where he so generously hosted his family and friends (who were really more family). Many people will have many fond memories of the fabulous BBQs and the fantastic good times around the pool…My uncle always made it a priority to make time for his family and was always there to share in the milestone events to help us celebrate. As an adult I now know how busy life can really get and I have such respect that my uncle made it a regular event to take all of us kids for our own weekends at his home. They were splendid getaways from older and younger siblings…events that really were special…I sure did think I was something, all of 8 years old sipping on a Shirley Temple pretend cocktail and having a Caesar salad tossed at the side of my table in a restaurant or simply quiet afternoons hanging out in the backyard on lounge chairs reading.
Years ago Uncle Don would play his favorite country music in the background of parties and visits. I’m quite sure my special memories of warm family visits is why I have such an unexpected appreciation for the old classic country music…and why my 2 year old daughter can go from fussing in the car to happily bopping in her car seat when I turn on a Johnny Cash song…and I know I will always think of my Uncle Don and smile.
Yuming Wang
October 21, 2008
Don is a wonderful neighbor, and a good friend. All my family members love him very much! He will forever be in our memories.
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