Obituaries » Douglas Gerald Woolsey
Douglas Gerald Woolsey
July 23, 1936 - December 11, 2025
A graveside service to honor Douglas’s life will be held on December 17, 2025, at 10:00AM at Bethel Baptist Cemetery with a celebration of his life at Cornerstone Baptist Church at 11:00am following the interment.
Douglas Gerald Woolsey, a cherished husband, beloved uncle, and devoted friend, passed away peacefully on December 11, 2025, at the age of 89, in Lakeland, Florida. He was born on July 23, 1936, in Sayre, Pennsylvania, to Dr. G. Arthur and Eudora Woolsey, who preceded him in death along with his sister, Aleta Ellington.
Douglas lived a life full of passion and purpose. He was a man who not only loved his family deeply but also enriched the lives of those around him with his kindness and humor. He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Woolsey, his brother, Jim Woolsey (Shirley) along with numerous nieces and nephews: Rebeca Witcomb (David), John Ellington (Linda), Tim Ellington, James Ellington, and Sarah Deellis, as well as four grandnieces and grandnephews. His family was his pride and joy, and he relished every moment spent with them.
In his professional life, Douglas was an industrious individual with a keen entrepreneurial spirit. He owned a barber shop alongside his wife and worked at Itech Business Machines in Rochester, New York, before making the warm move to Florida. Notably, he retired from IBM, where he meticulously worked on putting pins in small microchips—a testament to his attention to detail and dedication.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Douglas was a proud member of Cornerstone Baptist Church, where his deep faith and love for the Lord were evident to all who knew him. He embodied a spirit of joy and laughter, consistently bringing smiles to the faces of his friends and family. Known for his quick wit, he had an uncanny ability to lighten any room and uplift those around him with his humor.
Douglas had a lifelong passion for old race cars and was an enthusiastic stock car racer for many years. His love for speed and competition was not just a hobby; it was a reflection of his adventurous spirit and zest for life. He enjoyed sharing stories of his racing days, and those tales will continue to resonate in the hearts of all who heard them.
A graveside service to honor Douglas’s life will be held on December 17, 2025, at 10:00AM at Bethel Baptist Cemetery with a celebration of his life at Cornerstone Baptist Church at 11:00am following the interment. Family and friends are invited to celebrate the remarkable life of a man who loved deeply, laughed often, and inspired everyone he met.
In remembrance of Douglas, let us carry forward his legacy of love, laughter, and faith. Though he has left this world, his spirit will forever remain in the hearts of those who loved him.