David Wayne "D, Papa D" Dougal

DAVID WAYNE DOUGAL
April 15, 1941 ˜ July 20, 2023

Dave Dougal, known as “Mr. D” to his students and “Papa D” to his 2-year-old grandson, built solid relationships that made people feel valued and understood. He was a true original and one of the last of his kind. He passed away peacefully in his sleep while at home with his wife on July 20, 2023, the morning birds singing, the newspaper on the doorstep, the coffee brewing.

Born to Svea (Nelson) Dougal and Ainerd Dougal on April 15, 1941, David proudly grew up in the Fourth Plain Village of Vancouver alongside a group of neighborhood friends that he remained in contact with for the duration of his life. He was loyal to those he loved. He was known for his comedic timing, dry wit, silly and sultry dance moves, smooth style, and his laidback overall coolness. He was a stable and loving father to four daughters.

His marriage to Judith was a true expression of love and commitment. Through a series of events good enough for a movie, they married five years after realizing they were soulmates. Once they found each other, they didn’t waste a day. Dave and Jude had each other, and together they had three children. They lived in a house Dave built on a plot of land with a large garden and climbable fruit trees.

Dave was proud of his daughters. He traveled to England, New York City, California and Colorado to support them as they began their adult lives. In the golden years of their marriage, Dave and Judy traveled to Greece, Italy, France and the Netherlands. They were married nearly 55 years. They enjoyed Janis Joplin, visiting national parks, seeing Shakespearean plays, walking along the Salmon Creek Trail and quiet evenings at their cabin on Lake Merwin.

Dave was a creative and an intellectual. He was passionate about ethical politics and believed strongly in social services, public schools, and national parks. He was an artist and a carpenter. He was a surveyor for the railroad, a cartographer, a geologist, an anthropologist, and a political cartoonist. He was a paper boy and a grocery clerk in his youth. He could still pack your grocery bag perfectly. He noticed the little details in life and was known for his finish work in carpentry. He manufactured little surprises everywhere he went, often finding a home for something you didn’t know was out of place.

He was committed to education and lifelong learning. He attended Vancouver Public Schools from K - 12 and retired from Vancouver Public Schools after 20 years of service to the community where he grew up. He earned a bachelor’s degree in geology from Western Washington University and a master’s in education from the University of Portland. He was a beloved fifth grade teacher at Benjamin Franklin Elementary School for his entire teaching career. He was well loved everywhere he went. Often, when people would find out he was our father, they would tell us he had been their favorite or most influential teacher. Some might even say legendary! He was a guiding soul in the lives of many young people.

David is survived by his wife, Judith (Remsing) Dougal; four children, Kimberly Altman (Gary), Meghan Dougal-Black (John), Mara Hays (Matthew), and Maeve Dougal; three grandchildren, David Altman, Madison Hays, and Luka Dougal Tomac; one great-grandchild: Josephine Altman. He leaves behind his four siblings, Ron Dougal, Clarine Rudig, Karen Wiedeman and Christie Clark.

David believed in taking care of his family, and he was always there to help. He was a family man through and through. He spent his 82nd birthday in full costume at an 80’s themed gala dance party. He rocked a long wig, track suit, and sunglasses with a relaxed smile on his face the whole night. He celebrated all of us in our unique ways. He was the life of all our parties, and we loved him.

A celebration of life is being held on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023, at 2 p.m. at the Red Cross Building at Fort Vancouver (605 Barnes Road, Vancouver, WA).

In lieu of flowers, consider sending gifts in his honor to community organizations that he proudly supported:
Open Space Dance (openspace.dance/fundart) and Oregon Public Broadcasting (opb.org).
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