Douglas Wheeler Jessup

Douglas Wheeler Jessup of Montgomery, NY passed away June 10th, 2021 at home with his family.  The son of William Wheeler Jessup and Mildred Parkhurst Jessup of Florida, NY.  He was 85 years old, born on December 4, 1935, at Horton Hospital, Middletown, NY.

Doug was a graduate of SS Seward Institute, Florida, NY, Orange County Community College and Albany State University, where he received both his BA and Masters degrees in education.  As a business teacher he worked at Valley Central High School in Montgomery, NY, from its opening as a new high school to his retirement in 1991.  He was head of the business department ,a teachers retirement representative, and assisted in the opening of the Valley Central Federal Credit Union and worked there for many years during his teaching career.

Doug enjoyed hunting and fishing, and professional sports.  Anyone who knew him knew what an avid Mets and Jets fan, and golf fan, he was.  He played golf for years, and was a long time member of the Osiris Golf Club in Walden, NY.  

After graduating from OCCC in 1955, Doug enlisted in the US Army, and served for two years during the Cold War in the Third Armored Division in Fort Knox, Kentucky,  Hanau, Germany, and Fort Dix, New Jersey.  He often said later in life what an exceptional learning experience this was for a boy who grew up on a dairy farm in the Black Dirt area.  He was honorably discharged, and maintained contact with many other Service members he had served with.

On August 24, 1957, Doug married his high school sweetheart, Janet McLain, also of Florida, NY.  They were a couple for 70 years, and would have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this coming August had God not called his son Doug home first.

He is survived by his wife, Janet, his son, John Douglas Jessup and daughter-in-law Kari Reed of Montgomery, NY,  his brother Robert M. Jessup and sister-in-law Patricia Jessup of Goshen, NY and Duxbury, MA, and many nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by his sister, Jane Jessup Welch, of Florida, NY and Panama City, Florida, and both his parents.  

There will be a private graveside service at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties, 800 Stony Brook Crest, Newburgh, NY 12550, or the First Presbyterian Church of Montgomery, NY.

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