Douglas Edward De Loach

Douglas Edward De Loach of Lancaster, Texas, our beloved husband, father, son, brother, nephew, uncle and cousin "flew west" as the pilots say on November 4, 2015. Though Doug lived only 44 years, the life he lived is one to admire and be inspired by. He epitomized love, laughter, thinking positively, working hard and never complaining or giving in to the pain of the pancreatitis that plagued him for more than a decade or the ravages of a sudden onslaught of a cancer of unknown primary source that seemed so unfairly to take him away...both from a life he so savored, and from us who so loved him. Doug bravely fought the disease to his last day and it didn't win, it's just that Heaven's angels needed a new flight leader and Doug's name was at the top of the list.

Doug was born in Dallas on February 23, 1971. He grew up in University Park, attended University Park Elementary, McCulloch Middle School, Highland Park Senior High School and Lakehill Preparatory School, graduating in 1989. Since Doug's passion was for aviation and for becoming a professional pilot he followed that course of study in college, but eventually settled for flying as an avocation. A self-employed entrepreneur, Doug's first venture was as a restaurateur. As such, he owned and operated the "Bopper's Burgers" restaurants in Dallas for several years in the 1990's. Later, he branched out into real estate services, building and remodeling and finally, when illness made him increasingly home-bound, ran a successful model aviation business from his home and over the internet. As an avid pilot and long time member of the Experimental Aircraft Association,

Doug first met his beloved wife Jodie when flying to Oshkosh, Wisconsin where Jodie lived to attend one of the EAA's annual fly-in extravaganzas there. For the past few years Doug and his friend John Clark gamely flew John's vintage 1946 Ercoupe with all of its 75 HP to Oshkosh and back for the EAA fly-ins. Doug and his dad Ed, sharing a love for aircraft home building, were well along with and enjoyed hundreds of hours of quality time together building a Waiex experimental airplane until forced to halt its construction by Doug's illness. Together they also designed an improved landing gear for another experimental aircraft design, the Double Eagle. A distant flight on a moment's notice to fly with Allen as Allen flew a United Airline plane domestically or internationally were not uncommon. Shorter routes, a bit "lower and slower" than the airliners in "Uncle Don's" Bonanza, John's Ercoupe, others, or Doug flying solo or giving youngsters or grown-ups rides in a variety of aircraft were familiar adventures too, at least temporarily fulfilling Doug's need for sky time. In addition to full-scale airplanes, Doug loved designing, building and flying model airplanes, especially electric RC ones. He also enjoyed sailing, fishing, traveling, attending concerts (specially Jimmy Buffett ones), or just hanging out with his flying buddies at Lancaster Airport or with his family and friends, here there and yon. As a member of Highland Park Presbyterian Church Doug edited the church newspaper for a time. He was a vociferous reader, widely read, as familiar say with Russian history as with the speed of the fastest land animal. Just ask his pain doctor Dr. Casanova. Doug was preceded in death by his mother, Cecilia Straus De Loach.

In addition to his wife, the love of his life, Jodie Joy De Loach, he is survived by Jodie's children Chelsea Berry, Shannon Berry, and Teagen Berry whom Doug loved as his own, Doug's father Ed De Loach, brothers Don (wife Cindy and niece Kiley) and Matthew, sister Debra, Aunt Carol (Doyle) Fletcher, Avery, cousins Laurie, Karen, Michael, Carol, Cheryl, Ray, Ricky and many other family and friends. Doug loved Pat (pseudo mom), Armando (psuedo brother) and Armando's son Rollie as part of his family and not simply as neighbors. Long time and loyal friends Willie and Allen might well have been his brothers too.

A memorial service celebrating Doug's life will be held on Saturday, November 14, beginning at 2:00 pm in the chapel at Sparkman-Hillcrest Cemetery & Funeral Home, 7405 W Northwest Hwy, Dallas. The service will be followed by interment, and then a reception in a room adjacent to the chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to EAA Young Eagles Donations, P.O. Box 3086, Oshkosh WI 54903. In memo area of check please write "Given in memory of Douglas De Loach".