Allen Douglas Watrous, Sr. of Pinellas Park, passed away peacefully on March 15, 2014. He was born in Middletown, CT to Earle D. and Ada (Burckel) Watrous. He joined the army after high school in New Britain, CT and was in basic training in Brooklyn, NY when he met his future bride, Dolores. He served in Korea during the war as a tank retriever and mechanic. Returning home, he worked at B.W. Brown as a Teamster.
After marriage, they moved to Kensington, CT. Soon after, daughter Beth arrived, and then son Doug, Jr. He loved camping with his family and friends all over our beautiful country, square dancing, sharing “garage beer” with Bernard Road buddies, and restoring old cars, especially a 1930 Ford Model A with Doug, Jr. He was a long-time parishioner of St. Paul Church in Kensington, was Scout Master for Troop 24 there, and worked for the parish school for a few years after retiring. Doug was also a member of the VFW and American Legion; the Breath-Takers at Hospital for Special Care, New Britain, CT; and Sacred Heart Church, Pinellas Park, FL.
After retiring, Doug and Dolores moved to Florida where they lived an active life in The Mainlands, where Doug served as President of the Men’s Club, and from where they were able to continue their travels, especially on cruises with family and friends. Doug loved his home looking out on the golf course. He felt blessed that God had given him 85 wonderful years, and that he was able to have his 60 year marriage blessed by the bishop at St. Jude’s Cathedral in St. Petersburg.
A wonderful and loving husband, dad, and “Papa”, Doug is survived by his wife Dolores, daughter Beth, and son Doug, Jr. & his wife Robyn. His great joy was his granddaughter, Amanda, with whom he shared a birthday; from teaching her to ride her bike without training wheels, to watching her compete in local and state swim meets, and spending extra time with her this year on weekend breaks from her studies at the University of Tampa.
The funeral Mass with military honors will be on March 28th at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church. A celebration of Doug’s life will be held after Mass at the Mainlands Unit 2 clubhouse.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the following charities will be most welcome.
Special Care Breath-Takers, Hospital for Special Care, 2150 Corbin Avenue, New Britain, CT 06053, Attn: Janet Bowen
Suncoast Hospice Foundation, 5771 Roosevelt Blvd., Clearwater, FL 33760 Or give online at: http://www.thehospice.org/Donate
A great man with all the qualities I would like to have . I hope I can live to be half the man he was . God truly blessed our family by bringing us together . You will always be my hero dad , guiding me and walking with me for always . Thank you for being my dad . Love Doug
A truly great friend with whom we shared many memorable times, both in our Mainlands community and on cruises. May his soul rest in peace.
Beautiful Douglas
You were always smiling, that smile will be missed at Mainlands 2 gatherings.
God Blessings!
The best and only father-in-law that I could ever have imagined. Your smile and your sweet personality were contagious. I am so happy to have you in my life and I will forever miss you. Thanks for being you. Love always, Robyn
All the members of the Sunshine State Chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association wish to convey their condolences to the family of Allen ’Doug’ Watrous Sr. NOT ONE OF THEM IS FORGOTTEN BEFORE GOD. WE SHALL REMEMBER THEM.