Douglas P. Chumley, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran whose relationship with Washington Times online opinion editor Cheryl K. Chumley spanned three decades and produced four children, died Thursday, April 27.
Mr. Chumley passed away in his Virginia home surrounded by his loved ones following a lengthy battle with cancer.
Born Oct. 30, 1956, at Fort Knox, Kentucky, Mr. Chumley participated in the evacuation of Saigon as part of Operation Frequent Wind at the end of the Vietnam War. After four years in the Marines, he served nearly eight years as an active-duty Army combat engineer.
He met his third wife, Cheryl, in 1993 while serving as a non-commissioned Army officer at Fort Stewart, Georgia. She was also serving in the Army at Fort Stewart at the time.
After taking an early out from the military, Mr. Chumley tried several careers. He owned a commercial cleaning business in Florida, served as a correctional officer at a youth detention center in Georgia, and finally worked as a mechanic and technical services director at several golf courses in Northern Virginia.
He started a private investigator agency with his wife in 2020 while volunteering at a nonprofit to fight the sexual trafficking of children.
“Doug’s big loves were God and family. For more than 15 years, he suffered in nonstop pain from a variety of health issues solely so he could stay in this life and be there for his family. He was a true Renaissance man, as skilled with cooking and artistry as he was with fixing anything and everything. We will miss his midnight meals, his quick recall of all things history, his passion for football and politics and his patriotic pride for America,” Mrs. Chumley said.
Mr. Chumley was preceded in death by his mother, Amelia Banks; his father, Thomas Chumley Sr.; and his stepfather, Mack Banks.
He is survived by his wife, Cheryl, and their four children: Savanna, 28; Keith, 27; Colvin, 21; and Chloe, 16; and one granddaughter, Sophie, 2, the daughter of Savanna. He also is survived by Stephanie, his daughter from a previous marriage.
Mr. Chumley also is survived by several siblings: brothers Thomas Chumley Jr. and Curt Chumley, and sister Catherine Brown; and half-brothers David “Davy” Banks, Mack “Little Mack” Banks and Daniel “Danny” Banks.
Funeral arrangements are private. Mr. and Mrs. Chumley have arranged when the time comes to have their ashes scattered together in Savannah, Georgia — the city where they started their family.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages well-wishers to offer a donation to a charity or Christian church in Mr. Chumley’s name.
• Sean Salai can be reached at ssalai@washingtontimes.com.
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