Harold Douglas Worthington, 86, of 9138 County Road 7B, Rushford, passed away Monday, May 27, 2024 at home after a lengthy illness.
Born on July 6, 1937, in Cuba, he was a son of Harold E. and Elizabeth Park Worthington. On November 13, 1959 he married the former Elizabeth Clark and together they shared 65 years of marriage.
Doug and his family grew up on the family farm on Route 243 in Rushford until the passing of his father. He attended Rushford Central School and also took courses from the American School of Correspondence.
Starting to work at a young age, he was a farm hand for Will Gilmore until he was 17. He then went to work at the Knife Factory in Franklinville for 9 months before going to work for Aronson Machine Shop in Arcade, where he helped in the construction of the new plant and once that was complete, he went to work inside the plant running a radio arm drill press. He also tried his hand at making cheese for the Borden Food Company.
In January of 1963, he went to work at the Rushford Central School as a Custodian and School Bus Driver. After fifteen years, he was promoted to Transportation Supervisor retiring on December 31, 1994 at the age of 57. In retirement, he continued driving bus and maintained his certification as a 19A instructor providing bus drivers with certification programs and road tests. His final retirement was at age 71, with a total of 45 years driving school bus.
Doug was involved with his community as well. He taught NRA hunter safety courses for 45 years, served as a trustee at the First Baptist Church of Rushford, was a town councilman from 1982 until 2012, and at one time was a trustee and sexton for the White Cemetery in Rushford. He also enjoyed electrical work, gun smithing and worked throughout the years for the Rushford Labor Day Committee.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son Harold D. (Lisa) Worthington of Lexington, Kentucky; 3 Daughters, Laura (Richard) Dibble of Cuba, Beth (Tom) Ertsgaard of State College, PA, Joy (Timothy) Mansfield of Rushford; 13 Grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren, 3 sisters Rosealie (Dwight) Hayes of Rocky Mount, VA and twin sisters Jeanette Worthington of Asheville, NC and Janice (David) Schuster of Rocky Mount, VA; Several Nieces and Nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brothers Dennis, Richard, Timothy, Thomas, and Robert.
Friends are invited to a Funeral Service at the Mark F. Rinker Funeral Home & Memorial Service, Inc., 9 Bull Street, Cuba on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 11:00 A.M.
Pastor Jerry Clark, Doug’s brother-in-law, and Pastor Tanner Dibble, Doug’s grandson will co-officiate.
Burial will be in White Cemetery, Rushford, New York.
Memorials may be made to the Balcolm Beach Bible Fellowship, 8985 Main Street, Rushford, New York 14777.
Online condolences may be sent at www.rinkerfuneralhome.com.
