Melvin Louis Douglass' Obituary
DOUGLASS, MELVIN LOUIS 87, passed away on October 18, 2012, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, on September 7, 1925, the only child of Florence B. and Louis E. Douglass. Mel was a graduate of Clarksdale High School, in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and The Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, where he studied Aerospace Engineering. He spent his career in an industry and profession doing what he loved, designing and building aircraft. Mel worked at LTV Corporation in Grand Prairie, Texas for most of his career. After taking an early retirement, he continued to work as a consultant for Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Vought Corporation. Service to and love of country were of utmost importance to Mel, and he enlisted in the US Navy during WW II. He was honorably discharged, having attained the rank of LTJG. Mel was the consummate engineer. He was a jack of all trades, and master of most. He had expertise in a wide variety of areas, and was as comfortable designing airplanes as he was building a house. He was an excellent bridge player, enjoyed watching the Dallas Cowboys, and had traveled the world, with fabulous cruises to exotic places being among his favorites. Ever the dog lover, he was comforted and protected by his daughter Barbara’s prized Rottweilers during those last difficult days. Above all else, Mel loved and was devoted to family. He was able to maintain an energetic and positive outlook on life, even though his life was not without tragedy. He was preceded in death by his first wife, V. Ramelle Tubbs Douglass, and daughters Vicky and Karen, all three of whom suffered from Huntington’s Disease. He endured the heartbreaking Ioss of grandson Brent, who was taken much too young. In 2007, he was predeceased by wife, Elizabeth Brewer Douglass, to whom he had been married for 33 years. Mel is survived by daughters, Barbara (Steve) Thomas, Laurie (Tim) Kutch, and Sarah (Dan) Rosenthal; step daughters, Betsy (Ricks) Carson, and Margaret Bales. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Memorial service will be held at 12:30PM, Saturday, November 3, 2012 at Restland Wildwood Chapel.
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