Douglas Case

Mr. Douglas Davis Case, 90, of 28519 Valley Drive, Albemarle, NC, went to be with the Lord on December 8, 2011 after a good life and a long, loving relationship with his family, friends, and his Savior. Mr. Case was born on August 27, 1921, in Erie, PA, the son of the late Clarence C. in Erie, where he played both football and baseball. He won a football scholarship to attend High Point College in High Point, NC in 1939. In the summer of 1942, he was drafted into the US Army during World War II where he proudly served his country in the 52nd Medical Battalion A Company. Mr. Case served in North Africa, France, Italy and Germany. During this time, he was awarded five (5) Bronze Star Medals, the Good Conduct Medal, the Bronze Arrowhead, and the European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal. Mr. Case often reflected on his time in the service with great pride and told many stories of his adventures in the various countries where he spent the war. After the war ended in 1945, Mr. Case returned to High Point College to finish his education. It was there that he met Miss Mary Frances Gamewell. Both Mr. Case and Miss Gamewell graduated with the class of 1947. Mr. Case received a BS in Business Administration. He was forever grateful to High Point College for giving him the opportunity to obtain a higher education through scholarships and after the war, the GI Bill. After graduation, Mr. Case was employed with Sears Roebuck & Co. in Greensboro, NC in their management-training program. On June 25, 1948, he married Mary Frances Gamewell in Badin, NC. They lived in Greensboro, NC for eight years. During this time they had three of their children. In 1956, Mr. Case was promoted by Sears and sent to work in the corporate office in Chicago, Illinois as a Control Buyer and Merchandising Coordinator for Sears Southeast Territory. The Case’s made their home in Wheaton, Illinois and had another child in 1960. In 1965, the family relocated to Badin, NC to be close to Mrs. Case’s family. Mr. Case became a certified teacher and taught Distributive Education at North Stanly High School in New London, NC until his retirement in 1984. After retiring, Mr. and Mrs. Case traveled extensively until her health no longer permitted. Mrs. Case went to be with the Lord in February 1995. Mr. Case loved working in his yard and continued to spend his time going on sightseeing trips and visiting with family and friends. After the death of his wife, Mr. Case was fortunate to share many wonderful years with his loving companion, Ann A. Ratliff of Charlotte, NC. He resided in Albemarle, NC and in Rock Hill, SC until his death. Mr. Case was a member of the Badin United Methodist Church and the Yadkin Falls Masonic Lodge 637. His beloved wife of 47 years, Mary Frances Gamewell Case; his brother, Richard David Case of Atlanta, GA; his sister, Patricia Case Cochrane of Gainesville, GA; and his son-in-law, Jeffery Todd Burleson of Rock Hill, SC, preceded Mr. Case in death. Mr. Case was a kind, gentle, loving man with a warm sense of humor. He was a wonderful father to his children and taught them strength, moral character and the love of life. He was extremely well read, and Mr. Case was able to speak intelligently to any subject from politics and current events to sports or whatever the conversation was about. A tremendous sports enthusiast, he especially loved football and rarely missed attending a Panther’s game even traveling to Clemson for each game in their original season. He was a great storyteller and loved to talk about his time in the Army during WWII and his life growing up in the Depression. Mr. Case loved the United States of America. He was very patriotic and very proud of all that this country stands for. Mr. Case will be greatly missed. He is survived by his daughters: Paula Case Parry of Albemarle, NC; Pamela Case Shaw and her husband, Larry of Rock Hill, SC; Patrice Case Burleson of Rock Hill, SC; and his son, Philip Douglas Case of Albemarle, NC. In addition, his surviving grandchildren are: USAF Master Sgt. Brian Wilson, his wife Kristi, and their children, Riley Michelle and Kaleb Case Wilson, of Sanford, NC; Jessica Burleson Howard, her husband, Robby, and their sons, Caden Lewis and Jeffery Cole Howard of Fort Mill, SC; Sarah Katherine Burleson of Rock Hill, SC; and Thomas R. Shaw of Charlotte, NC; His companion Ann A. Ratliff of Charlotte, NC. Pastor Barry Yates of Rock Hill, SC will conduct a graveside service at the Stanly Garden of Memories at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 10, 2011. The family will receive friends and family after the service and at other times at the Douglas Case home on Valley Drive, Albemarle. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association National Office, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601; Badin United Methodist Church, 18 Hickory Street, Badin, NC 28009; The Masonic Home for Children at Oxford, 600 College Street, Oxford, NC 27565; and High Point University, 833 Montlieu Avenue, High Point, NC 27262. Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is serving the Case family.