William Douglas Conrad

CONRAD ROANOKE, VA - William Douglas Conrad Oct. 30, 1921 - Oct. 15, 2011 William Douglas Conrad, 89, passed away on October 15, 2011, in Roanoke, Virginia. Doug, a lifelong resident of Winston-Salem, was born on October 30, 1921. He was the son of Sallie Davie Conrad and Elliott Robert Conrad, the brother of Robert Conrad, and a proud descendent of William Richardson Davie, the former governor of North Carolina and founder of the University of North Carolina. He attended Wiley Elementary School and R.J. Reynolds High School, and went on to graduate with a degree in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, in 1947. While at UNC, Doug interrupted his studies to join the war effort, serving as a chemical weapons specialist in the Army Air Corps, based in England. He met his loving and devoted wife, Jean Southwell Conrad, while stationed in England; Jean was the first war bride to arrive in New York on the Zebulon B. Vance after the war ended. After completing his work at UNC, Doug devoted his professional life to chemical sales, working for most of his career with Reichhold Chemical Company. Doug was predeceased by his parents; his wife of forty-seven years, Jean; his brother, Robert; and his grandson, James Christopher Conrad. He is survived by his three children: Ann Conrad Kistner and her husband Cary, of Chester, Virginia; William Douglas Conrad, Jr., M.D., and his wife Jeanne of West Hartford, Connecticut; John Christian Conrad, M.D., and his wife Robin, of Roanoke, Virginia; twenty grandchildren; and twenty-six great grandchildren. Doug was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church and Forsyth Country Club. He had a passion for travel, boating, history, and the Tarheels, and was renowned in his family for his storytelling. The memorial service and burial will be private. The family would especially like to extend its gratitude to Doug's son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Robin, for so lovingly overseeing Doug's care in his final years. Doug was a dearly loved father, grandfather, and great grandfather, and will be greatly missed by all. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 520 Summit Street, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27101, or to the James Christopher Conrad Memorial Fund, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, 10 Columbus Boulevard, 8th Floor, Hartford, Connecticut, 06106. Arrangements by Oakey's Roanoke Chapel, 540-982-2100.