Donald R. "Dick" Gulley, 92, went to tend to his eternal garden peacefully and surrounded by his adoring family Tuesday evening, October 6, 2015, at the Morrison House in Zanesville, Ohio. He was a well known and well liked former resident of Dresden, Ohio, where his smile and conversation will be missed by many. He will also be fondly remembered at (AEP) Columbus and Southern, from where he retired in 1980, and at the United Methodist Church.
He was born April 29, 1923, in The Plains, Athens County, Ohio, to his loving parents, Joe Gulley and Alice Coots Gulley, and embraced by his older siblings, Emma, Mildred, Laura, George, Florence, Elmer and Edna. Baby sister Anna Mae joined them three years later. They moved around southeastern Ohio a lot during his childhood as Joe tried many family-run business ventures. Eventually the family settled in Athens, and from there Dick graduated from high school and later joined the US Army in 1943. He served his country as a Staff Sergeant Radio Technician in England, Holland, France and Germany until the end of the war. Soon thereafter he met Wanda Bateman when "his gang started throwing snowballs at her group" (his words) one winter night in Nelsonville. His charming flirtation skills (snowball fight) resulted in 66 years of marriage, three children, six grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
Dick was so proud to have two daughters, Daune Rita (Paul) Prince, of Dresden, and Diane (Tom) Williams, of Trinway, and one son, Richard "Dick" Gulley, of Pataskala. He was also especially proud of his six grandchildren, aka "the big kids", Jeri Prince (Chad) Whitnell, Rick (Kim Hawk) Prince, Angie Williams (Steve) Pickens, Kory Gulley (Nelson) de Oliveira, Ryan (Rebecca Richards) Williams and Kyle (Courtney Wallace) Gulley. He never missed his grandkids' ball games, birthday parties, recitals, weddings or any other events, in or out of town. The great-grandchildren, aka "the little kids", Andrew Prince, Amanda Prince Dilley, Alyssa Prince, Ian de Oliveira, Ethan Williams, Emma Pickens, William Pickens, Keegan Gulley, Ellie Williams and Colton Gulley brought Grandma and Grandpa Gulley so much joy and a lot of laughs. They were blessed again with Peyton Prince and Parker Dilley, their great-great grandkids.
He was ready to be reunited in Heaven with Wanda, his parents, all of his siblings and his great-grandson, Andrew. The rest of us will cherish his memory and be sure to follow a few examples of his sound advice: plants should not be planted before May 15th and the roots should be watered during planting, hot food should be served HOT, a roast should be served "good and tender" so the leftovers make a good sandwich, and that any kind of pie is good pie.
The family wants to thank Virginia Helbling for her friendship at Apple Tree in Dresden, Ohio. We're also grateful for the excellent care he received at Apple Tree, Genesis and Morrison House.
Services will be 1:00pm Saturday, October 10, 2015 at the Dresden Chapel of Vensil & Chute Funeral Home, with calling hours starting at NOON. Burial will be "next to his honey" (his words) at Dresden Cemetery. To celebrate his life and pay tribute to his memory, eat a piece of pie (any kind is fine), listen to an Anne Murray song, continue working outside after dark, plant red geraniums in pots on your porch or go camping with family. We love you, Grandpa, forever.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 2225 Citygate Drive; Suite E, Columbus, Ohio 43219 or to Wounded Warriors Project, Post Office Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675.