Death of Donald Philip "Don" Gillespie

Donald Philip Gillespie was born on February 10, 1943, to his loving parents Marjorie and William Gillespie. His birth completed their family of five including older siblings Stanton and Zoe Ann.

Much of his younger life was spent in the southwestern United States where his parents taught school in California, Arizona and Texas at various Seventh-Day Adventist schools.

He attended Lodi Academy for his high school years and then Pacific Union College for his undergraduate studies, earning a degree in social work. He worked for a number of years as a clinical social worker, using his professional expertise to help countless other people through difficult times in their lives. He eventually furthered his studies, earning a PhD in sociology from Western Michigan University. He then stepped into academia, teaching sociology at both Pacific Union College and Andrews University. Eventually he moved into hospital administration and worked at Lakeland as the director of rehabilitation for many years. Later, he continued to work as a hospital administrator at both Foote Hospital and Sparrow Hospital before returning to his social work roots. He finally retired after working as a social worker once more at Lakeland and at Riverwood.
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Don passed away on July 13, 2024, at the age of 81. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Marjorie, his brother Stanton, and his sister Zoe. He is survived by his wife Sharon, his children Tom and Cara, his son in law Mike Sladen-York, and his grandchildren Katherine, Jackson, and Bella, and the beloved chosen family of Bob and Jenny Van de Warker and their children and grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in St. Joseph, MI, on Sunday, July 21, at 2 p.m. All are welcome to celebrate his life and the promise of resurrection with us at that time.

Read Gillespie's full obituary here.