Frederick Storrs Doolittle

Frederick Storrs Doolittle
Springfield
Frederick Storrs Doolittle passed away Monday, January 19, 2009, at Bassett Healthcare. He was born in Utica, NY, on October 30, 1911, to Alexander White Doolittle and Virginia Storrs Doolittle. He was the great-grandson of John Butterfield who founded the Butterfield Overland Express. He lived most of his life on Hart's Hill in Utica, NY. He graduated from Erasmus Hall High School, Brooklyn, NY. He attended Colgate University in Hamilton, NY. In 1934, he moved to Edgewood, Rhode Island, where he took over the management of the Shurkatch Fishing Tackle Co. He was married September 11, 1937, to Helen Bowerman Doolittle in the Trinity Church, Edgewood, Rhode Island. She predeceased him March 26, 1987, in Glynn Brunswick Memorial Hospital, Brunswick, GA. In 1936, Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle moved to Richfield Springs to operate the Shurkatch Factory. He operated the factory for over 50 years. He manufactured materials for the Defense consisting of emergency fishing kits for the Navy, Army and Air Corps. In 1943, with the termination of the Defense Operation, he entered into the Army. He served in the 8th Armored Division of the European Theater. He was awarded a Purple Heart, Bronze Star and 3 combat ribbonsâ€"the Arden's (Battle of the Bulge), Rhineland and Central Europe with 3 Service Stars. He was wounded when he crossed the Rhine and spent 35 days in a hospital in Belgium. In 1945, he was shipped from Czechoslovakia with the Provisional 35th Infantry Battalion to Leharve, France, and then to New York City on the Queen Mary ship for the amphibious invasion of Japan. The ship was not put into service because of the termination of the War. He went back to the United States on September 11, 1945, and received an Honorable Discharge. He returned to home in Richfield Springs to continue the operation of the Shurkatch Factory. In 1960, he purchased the remaining shares in the Shurkatch Factory and became the sole owner. During this period, he was Chair of the Board of the First National Bank of Richfield Springs (State Bank of Albany). In the 1980's, he sold the Shurkatch Fishing Tackle Co. to the Belting Co. of New Bedford, MA, and retired. He retired to his tree farm in the town of Springfield, where he lived the balance of his life. He was a member of the Ft. Schuyler Club in Utica, the Sadaquada Club in Whitesboro, The American Legion, The VFW of Richfield Springs, The Rotary Club of Richfield Springs, a section chief of the National Ski Patrol, Oneida County Historical Society, and The Farmer's Museum in Cooperstown. He also was a 38 year board member of Bassett Healthcare. Survivors include one nephew, five nieces, several grandnieces and grandnephews, and his faithful dog and companion, Baxter. He was predeceased by his parents; his brother, Alexander, in 1918, who died from the flu; and his sisters, Dorothy Storrs Doolittle and Rosemary Brown. He will be cremated and placed in the Columbarium at the Christ Church in Cooperstown, NY. There will be no calling hours and the service will be at the convenience of the family. Donations may be made to Bassett Healthcare, 1 Atwell Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326 or to the Christ Episcopal Church, 69 Fair Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326.