Douglas U. Wilson, 88, of Brattleboro died on Saturday, June 1, 2013 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. He was born in Brookline, Massachusetts on February 12, 1925, the son of Grafton L. Wilson and Dorothy (Usher) Bliss Wilson.
He had diverse interests including Jungian philosophy, the writings of George Santayana, birds, ferns, conservation, Democratic politics, art and music, swimming and cross country skiing, and he was a good cook. He loved to read and to
talk and tell stories. Doug was a longtime Brattleboro resident. He served as a sergeant with the U.S. Army during
WWII, where, in addition to doing his duties, he coached a boxing team and operated a semifunctional
Coca-Cola machine. While returning from Europe following the end of the war, Doug happily used the opportunity to bird from ship-top, despite the 30 ft. waves. He studied art history at Williams College, completing two years in one, and then graduated from Harvard University. On the WWII GI Bill, he attended Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. He received his JD from Boston University Law School. He met his wife, Mary, while both worked at the Brattleboro Retreat during the 1960’s. Doug worked as an attorney with Weber, Perra, and Wilson in Brattleboro for many years until his retirement in 1995. He was very active within
the Brattleboro community. He was a former Brattleboro Town Representative, as well as the head of the local Democratic Party. He served as a longtime president of both the Southeastern Vermont Audubon society and the Putney Mountain Association. He will be remembered by those who knew him as a very social person, who truly enjoyed talking and learning about other people. He led many bird walks and co-led his first birding trip at the age of thirteen, on a trip to Plum Island, MA, with the Brookline Bird Club. He introduced many people to the love of birds, including both of his children. He also had a passion for wildflowers and ferns.
He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Elizabeth (Ammann) of Brattleboro; a son, Paul U. Wilson and his wife Rebecca Chalmers of Rockingham, VT; a daughter, Leila C. Bate and her husband Dylan of Grafton, VT; a brother, Leonard Wilson and his wife Priscilla of East Montpelier, VT; a sister-in-law, Rosalys Wilson of Peterborough, NH; three granddaughters,
Kira Bate and Ella and Molly Wilson; as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is
predeceased by two brothers, Lee and Roger Wilson.
There are no calling hours. A Memorial Service will be held on June 15 at 10 AM at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Brattleboro. Burial at Middletown Cemetery in Grafton will be announced. For those who wish, donations may be made in Douglas’s name to: United Way of Windham County, 28 Vernon St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, www.unitedwaywindham.org, (802)
257-4011 or the Vermont Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, 27 State St., Montpelier, VT 05602, (802) 229-4425. The Ker-Westerlund Funeral Home in Brattleboro is assisting the family with arrangements.
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