Alden Capp Douglass

Alden Capp Douglass

Alden Capp Douglass, 94, died due to complications from several strokes on May 28, 2012 in Salinas, Calif.

He was born Oct. 25, 1917 to Presbyterian missionary parents, Clifford and Miriam Douglass, in Columbia, South America. While his parents were missionaries in Columbia, South America he attended schools in Wooster, Ohio.

He got his first college degree from Wooster College. He then served two years as a conscientious objector working at a hospital in Puerto Rico. There he met and married Rosa Q. Claudio, a nursing student at the hospital. During their courtship, Alden returned to California and got another degree as a physical therapist at Stanford College.

After Alden and Rosa got married they moved to Saratoga, Calif. where he worked as a physical therapist at Santa Clara Medical Center until he retired. After retiring, Alden and Rosa moved to Federal Way, Wash., where they lived until 1998. During this time Alden rekindled his love for learning and attended many classes at the local community college. There he really developed his love of growing Bonsai plants and creating pottery. After living in Washington they moved back to California and then to Oregon. While Alden and Rosa lived in Waldport, he was an active member at Our Savior Lutheran Church.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Rosa; children, Diana Ford, of Waldport, Roy Douglass of Sebastopol, Calif., Jeanette Kever of Salinas, Calif., and Patricia Siller of Arlington, Texas; grandchildren, Lisa Ford-Bailey, Ryan Douglass, Stephanie Kever-Frizzel, Teralyn Siller, Royce Siller, and Thadeus Siller; and two great-grandchildren.

In accordance to Alden’s wishes, his body was donated to science at LifeLegacy Foundation in Tucson, Ariz. His ashes will be returned to Puerto Rico, where Alden and Rosa first met. A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Monday, July 2 at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 38 N. Bayview Rd. in Waldport.