Teddy Le Roy De Vries was born Aug. 18, 1934, in Sully to Fred G. and Selena De Vries and passed away Apr., 28, 2025, in Glendale, AZ. Ted graduated from Sully High School in 1952. He attended the Utilities Engineering Institute in Chicago, IL, and earned his Auto Body and Fender Craftsmanship Diploma in 1954.
In 1954, Ted met his wife Ruth Dahm in Pella as he and a buddy were driving around the town square. Ted and Ruth were married Aug. 12, 1955. They were married just shy of 60 years when Ruth passed away in 2015. Ted and Ruth had four children.
Soon after marrying, they relocated to Glendale, AZ, where Ted worked for a local body shop. They missed the small-town atmosphere they had both grown up in prompting a move to Wickenburg, AZ, in 1957 where Ted worked for a short time for a dealership in town. In early 1965, Ted purchased a building on North Washington Street, renaming his business De Vries Custom Coachworks.
He spent 44 years in this building, repairing, and painting automobiles and restoring classic cars. He was a talented craftsman traveling around the United States showing his cars in classic car shows.
Ted was active in the community serving on the school board, involved in the Lions Club and 4-H Club, and was a part of establishing Calvary Baptist Church and the Wickenburg Christian Academy.
Ted also enjoyed aviation. His son Tim taught him to fly after Tim received his pilot’s license, and Ted earned his private pilot certificate in the 1980s. He was also an avid Indy Car racing fan and fulfilled a boyhood dream when he worked on the Jamieson Racing Team crew for three seasons.
Upon Ted’s retirement in 2002, Ted and Ruth moved to Prescott, AZ, where they enjoyed 13 years until Ruth’s passing. Ted was a part of the Prescott Antique Auto Club and the restoration of Prescott’s 1931 Fire Truck, and the First Baptist Church.
Ted enjoyed tractor rides in Iowa in 1999, 2000, and 2002.
Ted is survived by his four children Terry (Debbie) De Vries, Tim (Lisa) De Vries, Tammy (Delbert) Wheeler, and Natasha (Kirby) Johnson; 14 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren; two brothers; three sisters-in-law; and numerous nieces and nephews.
