Donald Kent Wiley

1932 - 2025

Send Flowers Plant A Tree
Donald Kent "Doc" Wiley passed away peacefully in the company of family and friends at Tidewell Hospice House in Sarasota on October 2, 2025. He was born on March 16, 1932 in Columbus, Ohio to Donald and Phyllis Wiley. Kent is survived by his wife Helga, his daughters Claire (Nick) Farrentello and Diane Brantley Wiley, and his grandchildren Kathryn, Colton, and Daniel.
Kent graduated from high school in Erie, Pennsylvania. In 1949 he entered Duke University. He subsequently transferred to Cornell and graduated with a degree in Animal Husbandry in 1955. Upon graduation, Kent began his adventurous life. He joined the U.S. Navy and sailed the Mediterranean, the Persian Gulf, and to South Africa, Singapore and Japan. After leaving active duty, Kent moved to Rhodesia and worked on a farm growing tobacco, cattle and sheep. He returned to the U S and entered the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned his Veterinary Medical Degree in 1967. In 1969 he moved to Sarasota, Florida and built his animal hospital, which he operated until 1997.
He was an active and involved member of the Sarasota community, serving on the Board of Directors of the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and as president of the Sunrise Kiwanis Club, the Girls Club of Sarasota, and the Manasota Track Club (MTC).
The MTC propelled him to a lifelong love of running and to membership in his most cherished group, the "Sunny Beachers". It was that group that enabled, and indeed, encouraged him to pursue his favorite activities (running, bike riding, sunset watching and beer drinking). Doc was a multi-tasker and often combined several of those activities.
After 30 years as a Vet, he closed his Clinic and embarked on yet another adventure. At age 65 he joined the Peace Corps and was stationed in Ecuador, where he started a program to inoculate cattle against various diseases. During his time there, he sent newsletters to his friends and family in Sarasota on a regular basis, so we could keep abreast of his activities there. In what he considered his most important act to further U.S. relations with Ecuador, he began his courtship of Helga.
After Doc's assignment with the Peace Corps ended, he and Helga moved to Sarasota and were married. Doc introduced Helga to running and the adventures continued. He bought a travel trailer and the Wileys traveled the US, sight-seeing and running races in almost every state.
Upon returning to Sarasota, the trailer was sold and a smaller camper was bought. Kayaking, canoeing, and Florida camping with friends were combined with running, biking, sunset watching, and of course, beer drinking.
Kent and Helga joined the YMCA, worked out daily, and soon found themselves in the company of many new friends. Doc cherished friendships and was a loyal friend to old and new alike.
A Celebration of Life will be held in the near future. Date and time will be posted on this site.
Legacy.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Donald Kent Wiley, please visit our flower store.

Donald Kent Wiley's Guestbook

Visits: 20

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors