William Robert "Bill" Douglass

William Robert Douglass, February 23, 1941 - August 19, 2025 William Robert "Bill" Douglass, 84, of Weddington, North Carolina, formerly of Granite, Maryland, passed away peacefully after a long illness. Born on February 23, 1941, Bill was the beloved son of the late Charles Gilbert Douglass Sr. and Lillie Lavinia Douglass (Parks). He grew up in Granite, Maryland, where he developed the strong work ethic, quiet determination, and deep faith that would define his life. Bill served his country in the United States Army from February 24, 1959, to February 23, 1965. Following his service, he began a long and dedicated career with CSX Railroad as a Maintenance Supervisor at Riverside and Curtis Bay Coal Pier. In 1964, Bill married "the girl down the street", Patricia Ann Douglass (Smith). Together they shared 61 years of small-scale farming and raising two daughters, Christine Len Delea (Timothy Delea) and Rebecca Susan Douglass (Dale Capuano), building a life centered on family, faith, and hard work. He was the proud grandfather of Lauren M. Klepper, Timothy D. Klepper, and Kathryn E. Delea. A devout Catholic, Bill was deeply committed to his church, never missing Mass and dedicating countless hours to parish events. For decades, he faithfully ran the plant stand at the annual August Festival. Bill was a true homesteader, frugal, resourceful, and endlessly capable. An excellent marksman and avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, and raising cattle. He freely shared the fruits of his labor with family, friends, and co-workers Never one to shy away from hard work, Bill cut and split firewood for heat for decades, tended his garden and livestock with care, and took pride in maintaining his land and equipment by hand. Bill was a natural craftsman and mechanically gifted, with a remarkable ability to build or repair just about anything. Over the years, he constructed barns, workshops, porches, and decks, and even designed and built machinery such as log splitters and dozers. He kept cars, trucks, tractors, and heavy equipment running with his skilled hands, and never shied away from plumbing, electrical work, or window replacement. His creativity and care shone through in the playhouse, tree swings, zipline, bike paths, and ponds he built for his daughters, as well as in the beautiful oak barn that stood as the centerpiece of his farm. Whatever the project, Bill approached it with determination, ingenuity, and a meticulous attention to detail. Golf was a lifelong passion, and after retirement, Bill worked at his favorite course, often walking 27 to 36 holes rather than riding in a cart. Later in life, he found joy at the Hampstead auction every Friday night, lending a hand and bringing home his prized finds. Bill is preceded in death by his brother, Charles Douglass, and is survived by his wife Patricia, his daughters Christine and Rebecca, his grandchildren, his brother Joseph Douglass, sisters Cecelia Marr, Anna Day, and Teresa Giese, and many extended family members and friends who will miss his quiet humor, steadfast presence, and generous heart. Bill will be laid to rest in his hometown church cemetery, St. Alphonsus Rodriguez in Woodstock, MD. Bill's life was a testament to faith, family, hard work, and self-reliance. His legacy lives on in the many things he built, the land he tended, and the quiet generosity that reflected his love. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at 11 AM at St. Alphonsus Cemetery, 10800 Old Court Road, Woodstock, MD 21163. Online condolences may be offered at www.haightfuneralhome.com