Douglas Chandler Fitts
(July 24, 1936 – April 9, 2023)
Douglas “Doug” Fitts went home to be with his love on Sunday, April 9, 2023. If you were lucky enough to know Doug or be able to sit and have a conversation with him then you knew just how exceptional he was. He was not a man of many words, but if you listened, you could learn so much.
Douglas graduated from Lompoc High in 1954 and later married his high school sweetheart Betty with whom he had 5 children, Mike, Susan, Karen, Matthew and Kristy. Doug was a member of the US Navy and during his service time was considered one of the top Radiomen in the navy. His Navy career was cut short, as he was ordered to return home to look after his mother and younger brother after their father had passed. Doug was a journeyman electrician by trade and was a long-standing member of the IBEW Local Union 413. In the 70s he spent a few years in Alaska where he was working on the great Alaskan pipeline. Doug, affectionately known as Fug Ditts, was a long-time stalwart community servant of Lompoc sports through the 60s and 70s. He was part of the crew that erected the tall field lights at the Ryon Park football field enabling the youth football program to play night games. Doug, Fug, coached many Little League and Babe Ruth teams and he was a coach for the 1968 Babe Ruth World Series Championship team. Doug coached teams that included many of Lompoc’s Legendary baseball heroes. Saturday mornings in Lompoc you could often find Doug in the back storage room of Tags Sporting Goods where Gus and Tom would hold court. He’d be sipping coffee with the likes of Louie, Jim, Bill and George talking Lompoc sports. Fug had a big loud laugh that almost always ended with him loudly saying Etscunguzia! (meaning and origin unknown) or with a good ole “Ahh shucks!”. He Loved many and was Loved by many.
Doug met his late wife Gerry in Lompoc, CA and the two fell fast and were married in 1984. It was with this union that Doug welcomed another 5 children, Sharron, Rick, Michael, Kenny, and Terri, into his heart and treated them as his own. Doug embraced this extended family and each new member as families grew. They lived a life of adventure with the travel required for Doug’s work until their eventual retirement in Mount Ida, AR. Doug made a name for himself in town for how immaculate he kept his lawn and just how much work he put into the property to have it looking the best. He was a man of many talents and if he did not know how to do something, he would go and buy a book and teach himself. If you ever asked him for help or hinted you might need help, he did not hesitate to lend a hand. Doug was an avid sports fan and was able to continue his love for sports through coaching his children and keeping up with his grandchildren across the states – if he was close by, he would never miss an event. Doug had a huge heart and so much love to give. He became more open with his emotions as he aged and would not shy away from letting you see just how excited he was to see you or to hear what is new in your life. Papa Dougie, as he was affectionally known, is remembered for spending hours on the phone with his children just catching up or talking about the latest sports news. Though he might not have seen some of his family that often, it did not impact one bit the amount of love he had for them. You could ask him about any of his grandchildren and he could quickly fill you in on the latest news.
His departure will undoubtedly leave a large void in the lives of many, but we all carry a part of him with us and his legacy will live on for generations.
Doug is preceded in death by his parents, Chandler and Ruth, his only brother Michael, his first wife Mary, and his late wife Geraldine Fitts. Doug is survived by an extensive family to include his 5 children Michael (Karen) Fitts of CA, Susan (Harold) Lindell of OR, Karen (Mark) Christensen of WA, Matthew (Isabel) Fitts of CA, and Kristine (Jerry) Amason of TX. His grandchildren Katie Fitts, Taylor Fitts, Keith Wyatt, Kevin Wyatt, Erin (Nick) Piemontesi, Peter Christensen, Matthew (Megan) Fitts Jr., Anthony (Brittany) Fitts, Kylie (Kaylina) Fitts, Emily Fitts, Samantha Murphy, and Melissa Murphy. Great-Grandchildren Ivar Wyatt, Lumi Wyatt, Wesley Wyatt, Aria Wyatt, Liam Piemontesi, Allison Fitts, Elizabeth Fitts, Naomi Fitts, Titus Fitts, Marilyn Julietta Fitts, and Grace Fitts. In addition, Doug had his inherited family from his marriage to Gerry to include bonus-children Sharron (Dave) Van Huesen of AR, Rick (Cheryl) Cummins of AR, Michael (Linda) Cummins of CA, Kenny Cummins of AR, and Terri (Larry) Jones of AR. Bonus-grandchildren Jason Davis, Nikki (Derek) Sanford, Carter Cummins, Mitchell Cummins, Lauren (Mike) Hicks, Lindsay Cummins, Christina Davidson, and Robyn (Shan) Webster. Bonus-Great-Grandchildren Gage Sanford, Kane Sanford, Jayce Sanford, Ella Davidson, Elijah Davidson, and Chandler Webster-Whitaker.
Doug also leaves a large extended family and friends across the country.
There will be no services at this time, a Celebration of Life is planned for a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Thornton Funeral Service in Mt. Ida. Guest register at www.thorntonfh.com
