Richard S. Douglas, 87, Former GM Auto Dealer

Richard S. Douglas, of Vero Beach, Fla., a former automobile dealer in Rhode Island and East Providence resident, died on Saturday, July 20, 2013 in Vero Beach, Florida. He was 87.

He was born to the late David and Margaret Douglas, on August, 5, 1925 in Newport, RI. He graduated from De La Salle High School in 1941 and received a BS from Providence College in 1950.

He served in the Pacific theatre in World War II as a Navy corpsman attached to the U.S Marine Corps. He married the late Anne Patricia Callahan Douglas in 1948, and they lived together in Rhode Island before relocating to Vero Beach and Blowing Rock, N.C. in 1968.

Douglas was a successful automobile dealer, managing and owning the Criss Cadillac Co. in Providence until he retired in 1986. He was active in the GM Dealers Association.

He was passionate about the game of golf, starting as a caddy at the Newport Country Club with active memberships at Wannamoisett Country Club in Rumford, Bent Pine Country Club in Vero Beach, and Hound Ears Country Club in Blowing Rock, NC.

He is father to seven children: Terence Douglas, Ankara, Turkey Mary Kathleen Collins, Vero Beach, FL Richard Douglas Jr., Seekonk, MA Anne Douglas, Vero Beach, FL, Judith Douglas Johnson, deceased Kevin Douglas, Bonne, France and Jae Douglas, Corbett, OR. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made out to The Little Sisters of the Poor, Jeanne Jugan Residence, 964 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860-4842 or pawtucket.org/donations or Treasure Coast Food Bank 3051 Industrial 25th Street, Fort Pierce, FL 34946.

A funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday morning, July 26, at St. John of the Cross Catholic Church, 26th St. and 74th Ave. in Vero Beach.