Doug Weston

Memories of Doug Weston by (Mike Bowen)

My earliest memory of Doug was as a first grader at Walter Reed Elementary school in Arlington. Looking back, he must have been my first true friend. We clicked immediately; it was a friendship that would last almost 40 years until he passed away at age 45 on May 14, 1994

In those days we were inseparable through Walter Reed Elementary School, Swanson and W-L. Doug lived on Patrick Henry Drive, next door to Cathy Casey; fellow classmates, Mark Lipsey, Dave Chester, and Bob Arberg lived nearby. As I recall Barbara Thompson lived down the drive as well. Doug and I were in the same Cub Scout Pack, and later Boy Scout Troop 162 out of Westover Baptist. Our classmates the Hawthorne twins, Jerry Nickelsburg, Joe Green, Paul Monger, to name a few, were in the same troop. During the Summer I would vacation with Doug and his parents on camping trips. I have many fond memories of those early days together, of swimming, and fishing, and of occasionally getting in trouble, but mostly of laughing and enjoying each other’s company.

While in high school, Doug met the love of his life, Julie Lawson (Class of 1968). Julie and Doug married shortly after he graduated. He attended Brevard College and later East Carolina University where he majored in History. After college Doug returned to Alexandria and entered a management career in the food service industry. By this time Doug and Julie had welcomed a new member to their family, Cheri, and would later add a second daughter Angie. As I ended my military service and returned to Arlington, we reconnected. Soon, I too was married to my wife, Beth, with two children of our own. Throughout our thirties and early forties our two families were often together. I had an old nine-passenger Pontiac station wagon and frequently we would travel together through Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland on weekends and vacations. Our old classmates Bob Arberg, and Mel Huntress would sometimes return from their homes out West and all of us would gather at Doug and Julie’s home in Dale City.

Doug was a good man, like many of our classmates he left us far too soon. He was a loving husband, a devoted father, and a generous friend. His warmth and laughter touched all who knew him. Doug had a fabulous sense of humor. In hard times and even when facing death, he never lost it. He constantly told jokes and stories, many about himself, his friends and family. He had a habit of retelling the same story over and over again, but was so good in the delivery that we never stopped him. No one ever made me laugh longer or harder than Doug.

Memories fade with age, but one about Doug remains most vivid. Doug and I would often go fishing on the Rappahanock River near Remington, VA (where classmate Gary Mumma now lives). One Summer day we were on a stretch downstream from Kelly’s Ford; the smallmouths were biting that day. Doug was fishing from a canoe as I was down river wading. It was a beautiful, clear, sunlit day -- a scene straight out of American Sportsman. Now by this time in our lives, like many of us, Doug had put on some weight and as I watched him casting I noticed the water was almost up to the gunwales. Suddenly, the canoe swayed side to side, I watched as he struggled to gain equilibrium, but in an instant Doug, his fishing gear, and our cooler were in the drink. We drank a lot of beer that day and laughed until our bellies ached. We miss you old friend. Rest in peace.

-Mike Bowen '66