Charles Douglas "Doug" Yarnall

Quaker Hill - Doug passed away peacefully July 21, 2022, at the age of 84. A loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and coach. Doug was born in West Chester, Pa., to his parents, Charles and Dorothy Yarnall. Doug graduated from West Chester High School in 1956, and was a four-year letterman on the Syracuse Basketball Team, graduating in 1960. He received his graduate degree at Springfield College in 1964, in physical education.

He started working for Mitchell College in New London in 1964, in the athletic department. In addition to teaching, he spent several years coaching the men's basketball team and teaching students and people from the community how to sail on the Thames River. His children would often run into members of the community who fondly remember their dad teaching them now to sail. He was the athletic director until his retirement in 2001, and was inducted into Mitchell's Hall of Fame, the New England Basketball Hall of Fame and is having the athletic center renamed in his honor. His legacy lives on at Mitchell College and with the community that he mentored throughout his tenure.

He was active with the Crossroads Presbyterian Church, serving several terms as a trustee and helping with various maintenance tasks around the church.

Doug was a man of many passions including basketball, running, swimming, biking, sailing and golfing, but his main passion was always his family. He married the love of his life, Heather Whipps, in 1961.

He is survived by his wife, children: Heidi Yarnall Crowell, her fiancé Joe Donovan, Bruce Yarnall, his wife Catherine, and godson Bryan Herron, his wife Karen; and seven grandchildren: Wesley Crowell, Clayton Crowell, Rachel Crowell, Elizabeth Yarnall, Izadora Yarnall, Alexandra Herron and Adryan Herron. He is also survived by his brother Jerry; and sister Constance (Yarnall) Windus and her husband Don.

Doug's career and list of projects kept him busy, but it was always his priority to attend his children and grandchildren's games, graduations and major life events. After retiring in 2001, he continued to coach his grandchildren with constructive feedback and praise. During his summers on Cape Cod, he always had a project to work on and his favorite sidekicks were his grandkids. He made sure they learned valuable life skills from painting the house to how to properly dry a dish and to clean the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.

The love, kindness and generosity that Doug displayed lives on as we all try to carry forward the values that he instilled in those closest to him. He will be fondly remembered as a friendly caring man who acted as a father to people who entered his life. His family and all who had the pleasure to know and love him will dearly miss him.

Calling Hours for Doug are from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 27, at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 48 Grand Street, Niantic. A memorial service will take place 11 a.m. Thursday, July 28, at the Crossroads Presbyterian Church, 70 Crossroad Waterford.

The Yarnall family invites you to offer condolences, share memories and view Doug's online video tribute at www.neilanfuneralhome.com. If you would like to honor Doug's memory, donations may be made to JDRF at https://www2.jdrf.org/site/Donation2?idb=1509750827&df_id=2374&mfc_pref=T&2374.donation=form1.