Donald Richard Wire II

Donald Richard Wire, II, 85, of Raeford, passed away on January 19, 2026, at Autumn Care of Raeford.

Donald was born July 16, 1940, in Danville, Illinois, to Donald Richard Wire and Margaret Louise Main Wire. He was educated in Danville and attended Purdue University and Southern Illinois University studying Philosophy, History, and Political Science. He earned his Ph. D in Political Science and College Administration. He was a full-time instructor for NC State University at Ft. Bragg from 1965-1971 and became Dean of the College at Lafayette College in Fayetteville from 1971-1976. He was Director of Institutional Research and Academic Dean for Durham College in Durham, NC from 1977 to 1980. He served as an administrator at both Rowan and Bladen Community Colleges helping each to increase enrollment and receive grants to advance the Humanities efforts especially for Native American students. He retired from Bladen Community College in 1999. He continued to teach part time at Methodist College, Campbell University, and Fayetteville Technical Community College and continued to take graduate courses himself. He had many articles and research studies published in national educational journals and magazines during his career, as well as many poems and short stories published in literary journals and newspapers.

He is a member of Fayetteville Christian Church and considers the church and his activities in it to be, "The best and most valuable part of my life."

Donald is predeceased by two wives, Kathy Wire, who passed in 1997 and Kay Wire, who passed in 2015, and son, Donald Wire III.

He is survived by his sister, Nancy Freeze and her husband, John Russell Freeze in Indiana and several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his close friends and caregivers, Mike and Lisa Baker, and other close friends, Al Peuster, George McCann, Preston Fort, Kevin Rappold, and Pastor George Taylor, Jr., whom he considers family.

In his memoirs, Donald thanks all who have assisted him through the years in his educational and personal journey and encourages everyone to express their love verbally and with a hug, a touch, a pat on the back, and to "Love others as you do yourself," and to say, "I love you," very often.

Due to inclement weather the Celebration of Don's life will be rescheduled for Saturday, February 7, 2026, at 10 am at Fayetteville Christian Church, 4308 Rosehill Rd., Fayetteville, NC 28311. Burial will be in the Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery in Mamers, NC (Lillington, NC).

Funeral arrangements by Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home, 545 Ramsey St. Fayetteville, N.C. 28301

Online condolences may be made at www.jerniganwarren.com