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Douglas O'Connell
In Memory of
Douglas Boyer "Doug"
O'Connell
1928 - 2016
Memorial Candle Tribute From
Jones Funeral Home - Winchester
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Obituary for Douglas Boyer "Doug" O'Connell

Douglas Boyer "Doug"  O'Connell
Douglas Boyer O’Connell, 87, of Winchester, VA died on Sunday, February 28, 2016 at his home surrounded by his family.

He was born on November 10, 1928 in a farmhouse in Clear Brook, VA; the son of Douglas Jessie and Lucille Boyer O’Connell.

He attended Brucetown High School and graduated from Stonewall High School in Clear Brook, Va. He attended Philadelphia Textile Institute in Philadelphia, PA and worked at Clear Brook Woolen Mill for several years.

His real passion was writing. He was in the newspaper business for thirty-seven years. After a brief stint with Northern Virginia Daily he held a job at the Winchester Star for thirty-six years until his retirement in 1993. He had every job in the newsroom at one time or another. He won two first place awards from the Virginia Press Association and won a first place award for Editorial Page Excellence. High lights from his news career include; flying overseas with West Virginia Air National Guard, becoming a major in the Virginia Defense Force, commander of the public affairs unit, serving as a battalion staff officer and meeting with President Gerald Ford in the Oval Office.

Doug was also a musician. He played in an orchestra known as the “Royalaires”, a dance band located in Winchester and led by Lester D. Arnold, Jr. He also played the piano for many years at many private events across the Blue Ridge and for two years he played at the Village Square Restaurant.

After his retirement he also served on the committee for the Star Leadership Award and was a member of the Winchester Frederick County Historical Society and wrote a twenty-seven part series on what the future might bring in the wake of Winchester’s annexation with Frederick County.

Surviving him are his wife, Patricia Way O’Connell; daughter, Kathryn O’Connell Mowery; grandchildren, Emily T. Aikens, James L. Cherry and wife, Allison and Matthew DeHaven and wife, Natalie and great grandchildren, Lacy Rose Aikens, Wesley Aikens, Finley DeHaven, Charli DeHaven, Evan Denson and Olivia Denson.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter, Wendy Way O’Connell DeHaven.

The family will receive friends on Thursday evening, March 3, 2016 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Jones Funeral Home.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 on Friday, March 4, 2016 at Brucetown United Methodist Church with Rev. Yun Chol Kim officiating. A reception will follow at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Brucetown United Methodist Church or to Blue Ridge Hospice.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Douglas Boyer "Doug" O'Connell, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

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