Douglas Leonard Batchelor

Douglas Leonard Batchelor, 89, of Tallahassee died peacefully at his home on Monday June 6, 2022. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Jean Powell Batchelor. Doug was born July 31, 1932, to Leonard and Pearl Lamb Batchelor in Wilmington, NC. As a boy he loved to explore the nearby Atlantic beaches. His love of the coast would be lifelong. He graduated from New Hanover High School in Wilmington. In a few years, he made his way to Baltimore and a job at the Glenn L. Martin Company. It was while employed there a young lady singing in a church choir caught his eye. He asked her out, she said yes, and they married two years later. Following a stint in the Navy, the couple returned to Baltimore where they welcomed two daughters, first Karen and then Cheryl. In 1962, the space program brought the young family to Orlando. Doug worked as an electrical engineer for what was now Martin Marietta, helping to develop the systems that facilitated the moon landings. His idea of a good day at work was field testing space equipment atop a 100 ft. tower in remote Alaska during the wintertime. He also found the time to get his master’s degree in business administration from Rollins College. He was devoted to his family and saw to it that his daughters enjoyed a wealth of experiences growing up, from canoeing the Everglades wilderness to exploring the Okefenokee swamp to spending lazy days at their cabin near Alexander Springs, among others. Cheryl thanks her Dad for giving her the lifelong love of animals, exploring nature and showing her how to build things with your own hands. He could fix or repair anything. Cheryl also thanks her Dad for teaching her to change the oil and spark plugs on a ’62 Rambler wagon. Karen learned from Doug to always leave a place better than you found it. At the age of 59, and after 36 years of working for what was now Lockheed Martin, Doug and Jean retired to Flagler Beach. They bought an intracoastal building lot. Doug designed and built their dream home, doing much of the construction himself. For the next three decades he basked in daily ocean sunrises, the sights, sounds and smells of the sand and sea filling his soul. His days were filled with bike rides, developing his talent as an artist, helping his neighbors, learning more about our world and being that friendly familiar smiling face in his little beachside community. He never passed up an open U pick blueberry patch. With their daughters and extended family, Doug and Jean traveled extensively in retirement, from Machu Picchu to Iceland and innumerous locales in between. In recent years he saw the majesty of the Bison in Custer State Park, South Dakota and enjoyed the warmth of a lakeside bonfire in Northern Michigan. As the infirmities of age required more attention, Doug adapted with grace and always, a warm smile. Two years ago, Doug and Jean moved to Tallahassee to be closer to their daughters. To the end, he regularly enjoyed the frequent family gatherings and celebrations. He is survived by his wife, Jean, his daughters Karen Moore (Richard) and Cheryl Elias (Robert), his grandsons Jarrod Moore and Joseph Elias, his sister Dixie Jarrell, nephews Howard and Phil Jarrell, great nephew Sam Jarrell, his sister-in-law Libby Foster, nephew Larry Foster (Karen), niece Jo Padgett (Neil) and great niece Bari Padgett. A private family celebration of Doug’s life was held. At his request Doug’s ashes will be scattered in the Atlantic Ocean at his beloved Flagler Beach – but only when the surf temperature exceeds 80 degrees. He did not like cold water! The family wants to express their profound appreciation and thanks to Doug’s caregivers: Dee Gossard, Shannon Mahoney and Anita Brooks for the love, kindness and help they provided over the past few years. The staff at Big Bend Hospice helped make Doug’s transition more comfortable. Doug was a man of integrity, self-reliance, intellectual curiosity, and kindness, all offered with a warm smile and a servant’s heart. Those of us who love him will always aspire to the standards he set. Those who knew him will never forget him. Jared Padgett of Bevis Funeral Home is assisting the family with their arrangements. (850-385-2193 or www.bevisfh.com)

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Douglas Leonard Batchelor

July 31, 1932 - June 6, 2022