Douglas H. Birch

Douglas Harold Birch, 89, died peacefully in his beloved home town of Elyria, Ohio August 5, 2011.Born August 25, 1921 in Elyria, he was the only child of Ruth and Harold Birch.Doug was a 1939 graduate of Elyria High School and received a baseball scholarship to Miami University, graduating with a Bachelors Degree in Business.To prepare for duty in World War II, Doug went on to complete training at the U.S. Navy Midshipman School at Northwestern University. While in the Pacific, his ship escorted submarines to and from Pearl Harbor. Later, he was stationed in the English Channel. His maximum responsibility during WW II was as the Commanding Officer USS SC 1291. His ship transported a Beach Master to the D-Day Normandy Invasion at Utah Beach, where the Beach Master directed soldiers off their vessels onto the beach. He remembered D-Day as an unbelievable monstrous affair that worked out beautifully. Such a huge invasion - there were so many ships - you could almost walk across the channel on ships.During the war, Doug met his sweetheart, Isabelle McGregor Collins (nee Brydon) of Elyria. Love at first sight, they married while he was on leave in 1945. While in the Navy Reserves, Doug was recalled for the Korean War. After the War, with 17 years of active and reserve service, Doug was offered the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Wanting family life in Elyria, he resigned his naval commission in 1959. Doug began a long career at Bendix Heavy Vehicle Systems Group as a Sales Correspondent in 1946 and in 1957 he became the Field Service Manager, retiring in 1977 to become a private consultant until 1988. Doug took an active role volunteering: as President of the Elyria YMCA; The Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and Meals on Wheels. He was a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ, singing in the choir for many years. He enjoyed fishing at Hamyrth Lodge, north of Toronto, playing bridge and traveling.Doug was an exceptionally gentle man who cherished family and friends and will be greatly missed by his daughters Anne Collins Birch of Minneapolis, MN and Claudia Vaughn Birch and her husband Dr. Allan Spetter of Dayton, OH; Allans three children and four grandchildren.Doug was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Isabelle in 1995; grandson, Claudias son, Christopher Birch Williams in 1994 and his companion Eugenie Johnson.Thank you, Papa, for all the beauty, all the love you brought to our lives. The date of a memorial service will be announced. Memorial contributions may be made to First Congregational United Church of Christ 330 Second St., Elyria, OH 44035 or to a charity of donors choice.Dicken Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Elyria is in charge of arrangements. For online condolences, visit www.dickenfuneralhome.com.

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