Fremont Douglas

Douglas, Fremont Lafayette "Dougy", 94 passed away Monday, March 28, 2011 at Floyd Memorial Hospital after a long battle with diabetes and dialysis treatments.
Dougy was a native of New Albany IN and was born on May 17. 1917. He was a 1935 graduate of New Albany High School. He was a past member of Main Street Methodist Church. After graduation, Dougy joined the U. S Army. He was a Private First Class Technician Grade in the Central Dental Laboratory. He served in battles in the Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe. He was one of the first infantrymen to arrive at the Auschwitz Concentration Camp to liberate the Jewish prisoners.
Using his wartime experience with dental laboratories, Doug opened the Douglas Dental Laboratory, first located in the old Carnahan Building. Later he moved his laboratory to the Elsby Building. His laboratory business spanned a period of 35 years.
Dougy was known for his ever-friendly smile and endearing sarcastic wit. He enjoyed numerous fishing trips to Dale Hollow and Reelfoot Lake.
Dougy also enjoyed taking his family on camping trips in southern Indiana.
His favorite spot to camp was the Stagestop Campgrounds located in White Cloud, Indiana. Among his past time activities at camp were barbecuing his famous chicken, drinking martinis, and riding his mini bike around the campsite while his socks were held up by bandaids.
Back home in Clarksville IN, Doug enjoyed creating outdoor Christmas decorations for which he won numerous awards. Doug's innate ability to be creative with his hands spurred him on to create innumerable kinds of Christmas decorations, dollhouses complete with miniature furniture, Christmas wreaths with miniatures, and countless other handmade creations. The Douglas family was never at a loss in providing Christmas gifts to relatives and friends made by Dougy.
He also took up the game of golf and was an avid golfer for many years, taking trips with his golfing buddies to various courses around the U.S.
Until 1952 when his youngest daughter Jo Ann was born on May 30, Dougy traveled every year to watch the Indianapolis 500 Race. After his daughter's birth date Dougy had to be satisfied with watching The Greatest Spectacle in Racing at home on TV while celebrating Jo Ann's birthday.
Another love of Dougy and his wife Flo was traveling with a group of friends every fall to South Bend IN to watch The Notre Dame Fighting Irish play football. Somehow they always managed to get tickets to the football games. To this day Doug always said he enjoyed a good football game over a basketball game.
Dougy also like to garden in his backyard in Clarksville IN. His favorite flowers to cultivate were tulips. When he and Flora visited daughter Jo Ann in Michigan, they always returned to Clarksville with countless tulip bulbs from Holland, Michigan.
Doug told his daughters that "the best thing that ever happened to me"(besides being married to Flora) was being an honored member of the Honor Flight Group who took a plane trip to Washington D.C. with other World War II Veterans to view the World War II Memorial.
Doug was preceded in death by his loving wife Flora( Ringenberg ) Douglas, whom he married in 1941; his parents Edward and Jessie Douglas, his brother Calvin Douglas, and sister Naomi Douglas Schulz .
Doug is survived by his loving first daughter and caregiver, Janice Marie Douglas, New Albany, IN; his loving second daughter and caregiver Jo Ann Litton ( Randy, deceased) of Grand Rapids, Michigan; his 2 wonderful granddaughters Jillian Marie Foerster of Madison, Wisconsin and Jenna Lynn Foerster of Grand Rapids Michigan; his loving sister Bonnie Douglas Belden and family; his nieces and nephews on his wife's side: Mary Catherine Schroeder, Carol Ann Knight (Ray), John C. Lambert Jr (Jackie), Mark Ringenberg ,( Susie) and children Whitney and Taylor; Linda Ringenberg Murphy, (Tim) and children Courtney and Casey; John Schroeder Jr , ( Angie) and children Erin and Alex; Tom Schroeder, ( Jenni ) and children Molly Mae and Tanner; nieces and nephews of the Belden, Schulz and Douglas families; Gary Solodkin, close friend of the family, and his "adopted" daughter Beverly Ann Fitzner. Special thanks goes the nurses, assistants, and administration of Autumn Woods Health Campus for their loving care of our father. Special thanks to Dr. John Crase and endearing friend Dr. Thomas McKain for their excellent medical care.
Visitation for Dougy will be on Thursday, March 31, 2011 from 4 to 8 PM at Newcomer Funeral Home (3309 Ballard Lane, New Albany). His funeral service will be on Friday, April 1 at 10 AM in the Paul F. Kraft, Sr. Memorial Chapel at the funeral home with burial and military honors to follow at Holy Trinity Catholic Cemetery in New Albany. Immediately following the graveside service, a luncheon will take place at Tucker's Restaurant off State Street in New Albany.
Contributions in Dougy's memory may be made to the Honor Flight Inc., (Attn: Diane Gresse, 300 E. Auburn Ave., Springfield, OH, 45505). To leave a special message to the family please visit www.newcomerindiana.com .