Douglas William Ey
(August 17, 1927 - March 26, 2016)

Douglas William Ey, M.D., 88, died peacefully at the Woodlands in Huntington, West Virginia on Saturday, March 26, 2016. Dr. Ey was born on August 17, 1927 in Fremont, Dickenson County, Virginia, the son of the late William Charles Ey and Emma Lillian Rudd Ey, and the brother of the late Leo Robert Ey.  Dr. Ey grew up in the southwestern Virginia mountains, where he acquired the practical skills, common sense and fundamental decency that served him so well his entire life. In 1945, he graduated with honors from the Castle Heights Military Academy in Lebanon, Tennessee. He served his country as a control tower operator in the United States Army Air Force during 1945 and 1946.  Dr. Ey graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1950 and the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond in 1954. While at MCV, he met the love of his life, Joyce Withers Sullivan, and they were married in Huntington in 1953. They moved to Huntington in 1955 to continue his medical residency at St. Mary’s Hospital, and he opened his medical practice in 1956. Dr. Ey practiced family medicine in offices on Sixth Avenue in Huntington until 1992. He was chief of staff of Cabell-Huntington Hospital in 1970, and served on the admissions committee of the Marshall University Medical School for more than a decade. One of his great joys was his service each week at the Cabell County Health Department Pediatric Clinic and each month at the St. Mary’s Hospital Seizure Clinic. His house calls and evening office hours were a gift to the community for decades. He served thousands of patients faithfully, thoughtfully and joyfully.  The 63-year long marriage of Joyce and Doug Ey was a model and a blessing. They were the proud parents of four children: Douglas W. Ey, Jr. (Tere) of Charlotte, North Carolina, John W. Ey (Beth) of Dayton, Ohio, Jennifer Ey Lott (Dan) of Columbia, South Carolina, and Christopher C. Ey (Allyson) of Huntington. Eight grandchildren were his special pride and joy: McGowin Ey of Washington, D.C., Emily Ey of New Orleans, Louisiana, John Douglas Ey of Amherst, Massachusetts, Katherine Ey of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Caroline Ey of Washington, D.C., Daniel Lott and William Lott of Columbia, South Carolina, and Wilson Ey of Huntington.  Dr. Ey was a faithful servant of the Lord. He was a deacon, Bible Study leader and faithful presence at First Presbyterian Church. He had many interests, and even more friends and admirers. He tended a beautiful yard and garden on North Boulevard. He was a passionate reader, with a particular devotion to history, and the occasional western. He spent years collecting and reading the definitive biographies of every President of the United States.  Dr. Ey’s family thanks the skillful team of caregivers at the Woodlands for their compassion and care in his last months. Their service was a comfort to him and a blessing to his family.  A service celebrating Dr. Ey’s life will be held at First Presbyterian Church on Saturday April 2, 2016 at 1 p.m., followed by a reception in the Fellowship Hall. Burial at Woodmere Cemetery will be private. The family requests no flowers, and suggests that memorials in Dr. Ey’s honor be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 1015 Fifth Avenue, Huntington, WV 25701, for the benefit of the Cabwaylingo Chapel Ministry.