Richard J. Doolittle, 98, of Bainbridge passed away on May 8, 2016 at his childhood home and where he had resided for more than the last fifty years. He was born on September 1, 1917 in Coventry, NY to the late Jesse and Mabel Doolittle and was married to the late Margaret Stevens Doolittle for seventy-three years. He was also predeceased by his brother Paul Doolittle, his sister Ruth Sheldon Hendrickson and nephew Ronald VanderMark.
Richard is survived by his brother Frank Doolittle of Bainbridge, his children Donna (Niles) Johnson Brown of Tully, NY, Karen Champion of Virginia, John of Bainbridge and James of Rome, NY; Grandchildren Amy (Derek) Vogt, Timothy Johnston both of PA, Brian (Shelley) Beaumont of Burdette, NY, Stacy (Ken) Rounds, Mariel (Frank) Lewis, Allen Beaumont, all of VA, Michelle (Jeff) Nestler of Glens Falls, John Doolittle, Jr of Bainbridge, Samantha Doolittle of Utica, NY, and fifteen great-grandchildren. He also leaves nieces and nephews Daniel VanderMark, David VanderMark, Lora Corson, Nancy Hall, Fred, Charles, Paul and David Sheldon, Fern Henderson and Albert Hendrickson.
Richard “Dick” was a worker; he liked to be busy. When he was too young to work in his father’s mill, he worked on farms in the area milking cows by hand. In the late 1930’s he travelled to the Midwest to find farm work but found little so he returned home. He did seasonal work at Borden’s during the “flush” season and worked in a defense-exempt position at American Separator before going to work at Borden’s full time. Most of his adult life he worked more than one job at a time.
While at Borden’s, Richard was drafted into the US Army during WW II. After training at Camp Chaffee in Arkansas, he fought in the Tunisian Campaign led by Patton against Rommel. From North Africa he went to Italy with the 1st Armored Division and participated in amphibious landings at Salerno and Anzio. He spent the remainder of the war in Italy going north to the Swiss border. After VE Day, he was assigned to Occupational Duty to stop Tito’s aggression into Italy. Even in the Army, Richard kept busy volunteering for extra duty and frequently putting himself in harm’s way. He finally left for home from Leghorn Italy. Coincidently, he passed away on the 71st anniversary of VE Day.
After the War, Richard returned to Borden’s where he worked for nearly 40 years.
However his heart was with the dairy industry. He moved and rebuilt a house for his young family on his parent’s farm. He gradually built a dairy there. He started shipping milk in 1957 and shipped for 57 years until the herd was dispersed. He continued his interest in the dairy industry until the end, reading dairy magazines and newspapers and commenting on what was happening in the business.
Richard enjoyed playing checkers and Parchisi – games he learned from his grandfather. He also was a Pinochle player. Every game was a challenge to him and you could see the strategy at work in every game.
A special thank you goes to his caregivers who made it possible for him to be at home for the last nearly two years. He enjoyed their company and was glad to see them come in.
Services for Richard will be held at the C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, Sidney, NY on Friday, May 20, 2016 at 1:00pm. Friends may call from noon until the start of the service at 1pm. Committal services for Richard and Margaret Doolittle with follow in the West Bainbridge Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the West Bainbridge Cemetery Assn, c/o Dennis Fletcher, 3223 St. Hwy 206 Bainbridge, NY 13733.
Condolences may be shared online at www.landersfh.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, Sidney.