Donald Charles Peden, 86

Donald Charles Peden

1937-2023

Donald (Don) Charles Peden, Jr., 86, of Denton, Texas, passed away on October 23, 2023 in Denton. He was born in Athens, Ohio on July 13, 1937 to Donald and Mary Helen Peden. 

His father was the football and baseball coach, then Athletic Director in Athens at Ohio University, as well as a co-founder of the Mid-American Conference.  The football stadium at Ohio University remains named Peden Stadium in his honor.  His father retired and moved the family to Keota, Iowa where Don, aged 12, grew up on a farm.  He was a small child and was called Punk, a nickname that many of his closest friends continued to call him throughout his life. 

Don continued the family legacy even after he left Iowa, preserving the farmlands for future generations.  He was an active sportsman, playing football, basketball, track, and his beloved baseball throughout high school in Keota.  He went to college at the University of Iowa where he played baseball as third baseman.  He met his best friend Ricky Garner in the college dorms, where he became known by his other nickname, “Bart”.

After graduation he played minor league baseball within the Cleveland Indians organization.  Just after being called up to triple A ball, the military draft sent Don to the United States Navy where he was a deck officer on the USS Ticonderoga (CV-14). 

Once his service was completed, he went to work as a recruiter for Collins Radio, traveling across the country.  He then moved to Dallas and established a successful career in property management and development, while meeting lifelong friends Carl and Diana Brandborg, future godparents to his sons. 

He met and married Karen in 1979.  He adopted Karen’s son Eric, and Trey (Don Charles Peden III) was born soon thereafter.  Together they moved to Lewisville Texas from the Dallas area.  In Lewisville, he and Karen developed deep friendships with many neighbors that continue to endeavor. They finally moved to Denton Texas where he lived the rest of his life.  

He retired early at the age of 55, played golf, cheered on his sons and later his grandson during sporting events, and watched sports on TV. 

He continued in good health until arthritis and a complicated hip replacement limited his mobility and ultimately advanced liver cancer ended his life.  He had many deep and true friendships that he continued from his childhood and from every aspect and stage of his life until the end of his days.

He is survived by his wife, Karen Peden of Denton; sons Eric Peden and his wife, Angela Prince  of Houston, Texas, and Trey Peden and his wife Brittany of Denton, and grandchildren Morgan Peden, Taylor Peden, and Drew Peden.  His sister Ann preceded him in death, but left behind four nieces he was particularly fond of including Peggy, Pat, Babe, and Katie, and their children.