Donald Suitt Padgett

Donald Suitt Padgett of Raleigh, North Carolina died on January 10, 2023. He predeceased by his loving wife, Dwan Young Padgett. He and Dwan were married for 10 wonderful years until her death in 2015. Donald was within days of his 65th birthday when he passed.

Funeral services will be held at Catawba Springs Christian Church at 3:00pm on Sunday, January 15th.  Burial will follow in the church cemetery.  The family will receive friends at the church from 1:45pm until 2:45pm.

Donald grew up in west Raleigh and attended Cary High School where he was on the varsity wrestling team. After graduation, he attended North Carolina State University and graduated with a degree in Food Science. After graduation, Donald went to work with GoodMark Foods in the lab of their Raleigh facility. He remained with GoodMark which later became ConAgra for 30 years finishing his working career with Mt. Olive Pickle Company.

Although Donald enjoyed his work, his passion was sports and NCSU Wolfpack sports to be precise. He attended many of State’s football games over the years and could always be seen wearing his red Wolfpack hat and rooting for State whether they won or lost. He followed NCSU football, basketball, baseball and all Wolfpack sports.

He and Dwan found each other later in life which made their love sweeter. Both of them were avid sports fans which actually contributed to their introduction by a mutual acquaintance. They both enjoyed watching games and discussing details of the various teams. They both loved Major League Baseball and were both die-hard Boston Red Sox fans. In fact, part of their honeymoon was a trip to Fenway Park to watch the Red Sox play.

Donald made many friends during his life. He had a quick wit and a genuine smile. Even into his 60’s he remained in touch with many of his friends from his early 20’s. He loved his wife, Dwan, and stepson, Wesley dearly. In the 1980’s and 90’s, before he met Dwan, he spent lots of time in South Carolina with his sister, Cyndi and her family. He was always willing to swim with her four kids and play games with them. He was well known to all of the kids in Cyndi’s neighborhood as “Uncle Donald”.

Donald was a kind man who rarely ever had a harsh word for or about anyone. He loved his family and made it a point to attend most Suitt and Padgett family gatherings. After the meal, he could always be found off to one side talking sports with his cousins or other relatives. It was appropriate that his last night before he went to be with the Lord was spent with several family members in his room watching the NCAA national football championship game.

Donald is survived by his sister Cyndi Padgett Parrish (Ed) of Columbia, SC; his stepson, Wesley Young (Amber) of Mt. Olive; his sister-in-law, Beth Gowers and his father-in-law, Robert Gowers of Raleigh; his nieces Hope Whitesides (Tripp) and Taylor Spreeuwers (Steve) of Lexington, SC; his nephews Mason Parrish (Jen) and Adam Parrish (Stephanie) of Chapin, SC; his grandnieces Grace and Madelyn Parrish, Elizabeth Whitesides, and Norah and Sydney Spreeuwers; and, his grandnephews Carter and Raleigh Parrish, and Charlie and Henry Whitesides.

Flowers are appreciated or donations may be made to Catawba Springs Christian Church, 6801 Ten-Ten Rd, Apex, NC 27539 or National Kidney Foundation, 7413 Six Forks Rd #255, Raleigh, NC 27615.