Theodore "Ted" Douglas, age 83, of South Bend passed away Friday, November 1, 2013 at Golden Living Center, Fountainview Place in Mishawaka. Ted was born April 22, 1930 in Tuckerman, Arkansas to the late John E. and Ethel (Winston) Douglas. On August 19, 1994, he married Frances Vandervort in South Bend, Indiana.
Fran survives, along with his three children, Bill (Deb) Douglas of Osceola, Judy (John) Hook of Elkhart, and Theora (James) Helms of Judsonia, Arkansas and three step-children, Anne (Kevin) Hanley of South Bend, Jean (Doug) Zimmerman of Mishawaka, and Steven (Tammy) Vandervort of Osceola, along with 16 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Also surviving are his siblings, John (Mary) Douglas of South Bend, and Rachel Swiggers of Paw Paw, Michigan. Ted was preceded in death by his first wife, Mollie Douglas in 1993, and his brother, Woodie L. Douglas.
Visitation will be held from 4-8 pm Monday, November 4, 2013 at Chapel Hill Funeral Home in Osceola. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Tuesday, November 5, 2013 at Chapel Hill Funeral Home with interment and Military Honors to follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.
Ted enlisted in the US Army in 1948 and was honorably discharged in 1950. He moved to South Bend in 1951 where he was employed as a tree trimmer, and later with the Studebaker Corporation. He then worked many years for the South Bend School Corporation, first as a custodian and truck driver and later as a school engineer.
Mr. Douglas enjoyed traveling with his wife Fran, spending time fishing with the grandchildren at their lake cottage on Donnell Lake, and watching Westerns. In his younger years, Ted enjoyed bowling in leagues in South Bend. He was also a charter member of the First Landmark Missionary Baptist Church of Mishawaka.
The Douglas family would like to thank Dr. Afyouni and all of the staff at Golden Living Center for their care and concern for Ted during his time of illness. In his memory, donations may be made to Harbor Light Hospice, 1608 East Day Road, Mishawaka, Indiana 46545.