Washington, UT - On Sunday morning of November 1, 2009 at 4:30 a.m. Douglas Miles Stirling, 95, peacefully departed this life to join his wife of 71 years, who passed away earlier this year. Born in Salt Lake City on March 18, 1914, he was the son of James and Florence Stirling and the youngest boy among seven children. (His little sister Phyllis followed him into the family circle a year later.) Shortly afterward, his father divorced his mother and abandoned the family without financial support. Struggling under these circumstances, the family members who remained at home sought relief by relocating to California. Accordingly, Doug, with his mother and two sisters moved to Los Angeles, where he occupied the balance of his youth and the Great Depression working at odd jobs to help support the family. In 1938 he met his eternal sweetheart Ruth Fotheringham. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in October of that year. They then returned to the West Coast where they set up housekeeping in South Gate and later Huntington Park, California. During the first 25 years of marriage and family life, Doug schooled and disciplined himself in the restaurant business, eventually owning and operating two cafes. Then in 1962, at the age of 48 he began a new career as a real estate salesman and broker. Over the next quarter of a century he established a successful residential and commercial practice with three offices before retiring and moving with his wife to Washington, Utah in 1989. Doug was called to many positions of responsibility in the Church, including Bishop, and Stake Clerk. In the years 1980-81 he and his wife were also blessed to serve in the Australia, Perth Mission. In his senior years he became a familiar face at the temple which he attended twice weekly, up until the week of his passing. He also continued to serve as a faithful home teacher and was a good friend to all who knew him. His beloved companion, Ruth, preceded him in death in April of this year at the age of 90. He was 95. They were happily married for over seven decades. Doug and Ruth were the parents of five children - Michael, Kathleen Dale, Robert, Penny, and Stephen. Their progeny includes 19 grandchildren and 43 great-grandchildren. Douglas Miles Stirling accomplished much in this short sojourn of life, but he took the greatest satisfaction in his marriage, his family, and his testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Restored Gospel. He was an exemplary patriarch to three generations, and a blessing to all who felt the warmth of his friendship - qualities he has now gone on to share in the eternal worlds. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at the Quail Ridge LDS Ward Chapel, 860 N. Fairway Dr., Washington, Utah. A visitation will be from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be in the Washington City Cemetery under the direction of Metcalf Mortuary, (435) 673-4221.