Douglas B. Feaver

1939 - 2023

FEAVER

DOUGLAS B. FEAVER

Douglas B. Feaver, 84, a long-time Washington Post editor and reporter, died August 28, 2023 at Goodwin House Alexandria due to complications from Alzheimer's disease.

He began work at the Post in 1969. As a reporter, Doug focused on transportation issues including construction and opening of the Metrorail system, as well as national issues such as airplane safety. His coverage of the American Airlines flight 191 plane crash in 1978 helped bring about the grounding of the DC 10 fleet for safety reasons. He also served as editor for Virginia news, assistant Metro editor, and business editor. In 1997 he joined washingtonpost.com, where he helped spearhead the change from print-first to website-first journalism. He retired as executive editor of the site in 2005.

Doug was born in Sacramento on May 23, 1939, to Elizabeth and E. Kenneth Feaver. He grew up in Norman, OK and graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1961 with a degree in English. He received an ROTC commission and served as an Army intelligence officer, mostly in West Berlin, retiring as a Captain in 1966. He married the former Judy Amspacher in 1960, and they had two sons. Following military service, the family returned to Norman where Doug was news editor for the Norman Transcript until moving to the Post.

Doug was an elder at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House in Alexandria, and sang in the choir there for more than 40 years. He was a founding member and former president of the Online News Association.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son Christopher of Myerstown, PA; his brother Edward (Marylyn) of Quincy, FL; his sister-in-law Ellen Feaver of Helena, MT, his sister-in-law Jill Kinslow (Charles) of Dunkirk, MD; and six nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, his son Steven, and his brother Eric.

A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, September 23, at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House, 323 S. Fairfax Street, Alexandria 22314. A reception will follow at Goodwin House Alexandria, 4800 Fillmore Ave. To those wishing to make a memorial donation, the family suggests Old Presbyterian Meeting House Music Department, or Goodwin Living Foundation, 4800 Fillmore Ave., Alexandria 22311.