88-Year-Old Man Who Made Quilts for Charity Passes Away

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Story Published: Jun 4, 2008 at 6:05 PM MDT

Story Updated: Nov 20, 2008 at 10:09 PM MDT

By Nate Eaton

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Three months ago we introduced you to an 88-year-old Sugar City man whose goal was to tie 700 quilts for the LDS Humanitarian Center.

Sadly, Russ Wilding passed away at 12:30 Wednesday morning.

Every quilt Russ ever made was given away. After reporter Nate Eaton met with him in March, he made Nate a quilt.

Although Russ is gone, his life lives on literally in hundreds of quilts scattered across the world.

Linda Johnson, Russ's Daughter: "I feel like Dad's message was his life."

Russ had a goal to tie 700 quilts. All of them were to be donated to the LDS Humanitarian Center.

Louise Godfrey, Russ's Daughter: "Last week he had about four left to do and he said, 'I've gotta get these quilts finished.'"

On Friday, Russ tied his 705th quilt. In March, he told us how tieing the quilts makes him feel.

Russ Wildling, "It's just a blessing to me to be able to have something that I can put my hands to doing."

Russ started the quilts five years ago after his wife Lela passed away.

Godfrey: "He'd put on music that they loved together and sometimes I think I'd come and a few tears had been shed because he was really missing her."

It was the quilts that kept him going when his health got bad.

Godfrey: "He'd say, 'Well, the only reason I'm gonna get up this morning is cause I got some quilts to tie.'"

His quilts also taught so many about his life.

Johnson: "He's a man of integrity and honor and service."

Russ's family knows they'll miss him but are grateful for his example and believe he was ready to go.

Johnson: "He just had decided -- 'I really wanna go find Lela.'"

Godfrey: "If we could all just take a page out of his book, society would be a great place."

Russ went to bed Saturday afternoon and was so weak he didn't get up again.

However, he was so dedicated to his religion that he wanted to get his home teaching done for the month of June.

So on Sunday, the family he visits went to his house and he gave them his final message.

In lieu of flowers, his family is asking that donations be made to the LDS Humanitarian Center.

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