George Doig

George Doig, Jr., most recently of Mason, MI, died December 16, 2023 on his 102nd birthday. He was born in Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire, England, December 16, 1921. George was the third of four children born to George, Sr and Bessie (Long) Doig. The family immigrated to the United States when George was 2 years old. He grew up in Detroit and graduated at the top of his class from MacKenzie High School, earning a one-year scholarship to the Detroit Institute of Technology. While working nights at Stinson Aircraft Company, he completed his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering before enlisting in the US Navy in 1943 at the age of 21. He was commissioned as a lieutenant and a naval engineering officer. He was assigned to the LSM 354 (Landing Ship Medium), part of the Pacific fleet. In 1945 while on Saipan preparing to invade Japan, Lt. Doig witnessed the arrival of the USS Indianapolis at Tinian and later the takeoff of the Enola Gay for her mission over Hiroshima. It was only later that he came to know the importance of what he had seen. Lt. Doig became commanding officer of the LSM 354 for her return trip to the US in early 1946. He was discharged September 7, 1946 having earned an honorable discharge, the Victory Ribbon World War II and the American Theater Ribbon Asiatic-Pacific.

Upon his return from the war, George began his career in fluid power and hydraulic engineering at the J.N. Fauver Company in Detroit. It was there that he met Dorothy Mae Strauch who became his wife in 1950. They had two children, Kathryn Mary and Richard Wayne. They ultimately made their home in Bloomfield Hills, MI.

George left Fauver to join the fledgling Numatics, Inc. in Milford, MI in the early 1950s. He was one of 4 founding principals, rising to vice-president for Sales and Marketing. During his tenure with Numatics, he earned four US patents, several of which were also registered abroad. In the 1950s, George was one of a group of 30 local engineers and educators that founded the International Fluid Power Society in Detroit. He also became a certified Fluid Power Engineer. In 1966, with L. Irwin Walle, George authored Practical Air Circuitry to address the real practical aspects of fluid power that he did not find in published books of the day. He left Numatics in 1972 to found Doig Associates, Inc. as a manufacturer’s representative and designer of air circuit panels. He lived up to the company slogan by providing “Air Logic That Works.” George was inducted into the Fluid Power Hall of Fame in 2021 for his contributions to the field of motion control.

George and Dorothy moved to Mason in 2009 to be close to Kathryn. George had used the GI Bill to take flying lessons and flew a small plane for business for many years. He flew his last full flight at the age of 97 at the Mason Jewett Airport, after being out of the cockpit for nearly 50 years. He was also an avid fly fisherman and golfer. Still golfing until he was nearly 98, he called Mason’s Eldorado Golf Course his home course. In recent years, he had enjoyed providing golf instruction to younger enthusiasts.

George was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, one brother, wife, and son. He is survived by daughter, Kathryn Doig, and grandson, Christopher Scott Doig.

A private ceremony is planned in 2024.

Donations in George’s memory may be made to First Tee of Greater Detroit (https://firstteegreaterdetroit.org/), since George began playing golf in Detroit in 1929.