Obituary for Douglas R. Wilson Douglas Wilson passed away peacefully on Monday, February 26, 2018. He was born at home in Webb Mills, NY, the son of the late Raymond and Esther Wilson. Doug is survived by his children: daughter; Jackie, sons; Gary and Tom (Marianne), best friend of 80 years, Al Mallette, companion; Grace Jenkins, faithful feline; Angel, and neighborhood “double dipper”, Midnight.
He was predeceased by his wife, Helen Korolinchak in 2006 and a sister, Helen Benedict. Jackie and Doug were a familiar presence in the community at local sporting, jazz, and other community events and volunteering. The two shared the strongest bond of unconditional love and devotion.
Doug was very proud of his two sons and the men of integrity they became. He especially admired and enjoyed Gary’s spot on cartoons of life with Dad. He and Helen enjoyed golfing and vacationing in Hilton Head, Daytona Beach and with the Larrabees in the Dominican Republic.
In 1943, Doug left the Syracuse School of Forestry, one year shy of graduation to enlist in the Army. The country was in the midst of WWII and this is what you did to serve and protect your country. He was a paratrooper in the 13th Airborne Division and was deployed to Joigny, France.
At the end of the war, he benefited from the GI bill and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Ithaca College. He married, started a family, and began his career teaching and coaching. In Proctor, Vermont, he led the basketball team to a State Championship.
He returned to his Alma Mater, Southside High School, and began his iconic career of teaching PE and Driver’s ED, coaching basketball, baseball, and golf. He led the 1960-1961 basketball team to a Section IV title. He gained the respect and affection of his students and was known for his sense of humor, strong moral values, high standards, work ethic, and sarcastic wit.
He played semi pro baseball and softball and was inducted into both the Chemung County Baseball and Softball Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the NYS Section IV Hall of Fame as a contributor. Doug’s life is most defined by his integrity.
He always did the right thing and was honest to a fault. He personified what it meant to be a member of the “Greatest Generation”. Besides his family, the most rewarding part of his life was having the opportunity to instill values of hard work, character, and integrity in his players and mold them into young men.
Doug was a self made man. He would fondly refer to his players throughout his life as “his kids”. He was tough, but fair, a humble and kind man.
Doug’s tough exterior belied his heart of gold and as he aged, he softened. Doug was instrumental in bringing soccer to this area and is an icon in the local soccer arena. He officiated at the high school and college levels and the NYS Empire State Games.
He served as NYS Rules Interpreter and has been honored at the national level. He went on to become as assigner, assessor, and mentor to new referees. Because of his beloved Jackie, he begrudgingly became a Yankee fan and because of his high standards, they became the team he loved to hate.
He was old school and he lamented the reliance on the long ball. Can anybody bunt and manufacture a run or get a hit with a man on base? And Joe, you just go one inning too long with those pitchers.
The blue collar ball players were the ones he admired most. Doug was also a proprietor of Doug’s Driving Range. He loved animals and was the SPCA volunteer of the year.
He volunteered in the SPCA Pet Therapy program at St. Joe’s Hospital, he and Jackie delivered for the Arctic League, and he and Helen delivered Meals on Wheels. He was into fitness his whole life. Even at the age of 94, he worked out daily at the Family Fitness Center.
He was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Big Flats. Doug was a true patriot and had a great concern for the present state of the USA and the future of the planet. He leaves behind a legacy of integrity, accomplishment, hard work, and love.
He wanted a special thanks given to neighbor Scott Weaver, nurse Karen Heller, Dr. McClintic, and Dr. Waheed. Calling hours will be held on Friday, March 2, 2018 from 4 PM-7PM at the Olthof Funeral Home, Inc. 1050 Pennsylvania Ave, Elmira, NY. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, March 3, 2018 at 11AM in Saint Peter and Paul’s Cemetery, Elmira, NY with full military honors.
Family and friends are invited to gather at Bernie Murrays following graveside services. A memorial to honor Doug’s life will be held at a later date. Donations in Doug’s memory may be made to the animal rescue facility, Second Chance Ranch, PO Box 62, Wellsburg, NY 14894.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Douglas R. Wilson please visit our Sympathy Store. Cemetery Details St Peter & Paul’s Cemetery 623 Franklin St Elmira, NY, 14904-1612 2018 Previous Events Calling Hours 2018 MAR 2. 04:00 PM – 07:00 PM Olthof Funeral Home Inc. 1050 Pennsylvania Ave.
Elmira, NY, US, 14904 rolthof2@stny. rr.com olthof.com/ Graveside 2018 MAR 3.
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