Celebrant Pam Meily Vetter


	Celebrating Life Everyone Has A Story...

Douglass Haig Selby was the youngest child born to Bertha and Victor Selby in Salem Willows, Massachusetts, in 1917. He had four siblings: Victor, Hilda, John (Jack), and Mary. Doug was very close with his brother John. When Doug was 5-years-old, the family caravanned to Southern California seeking job opportunities. The family camped along the way. Doug's mother was a pioneering woman. The family stopped for a full day, built a metal oven, and his mother baked bread for the family. This was long before the time of the Coleman camping stove. In Southern California, Doug's father got a job splicing enormous cables and Doug sometimes helped him with the parts. His father set a strong example, as he was a good man. Doug admired his father, who also got a job working on the original Boulder Dam, which later became known as the Hoover Dam. At home, all of children had responsibilities and learned a strong work ethic. Despite the Depression, they had a happy childhood.

In 1935, when Doug was only 17 years old, his father died at the young age of 51 from lead poisoning. It was not easy for a young man, who was responsible for helping to support his mother and finish his education at the same time. But, he did what he could and continued his education at John Muir Tech High School, where he specialized in auto mechanics. Doug was a good student and it was in high school where he met his future wife when a friend introduced them. Her name was Kathlyn, but she was known as Pinky because she had red hair and was fair skinned. She was a year behind him in school. Interestingly, she had moved to Southern California from Colorado at the age of five, similar to Doug's story. Pinky enjoyed his laugh and especially liked seeing his handsome dimples when he smiled. Pinky, Doug, Pinky's girlfriend and Doug's buddy started double dating. They went to matinee movies on Saturdays for 15 cents. It was usually a double feature including a cartoon and Movietone news featuring the voice of news commentator Robert Benchley. Pinky and Doug had a lot in common. He introduced her to camping and they did a lot of walking together. Without a car, Pinky walked to and from school every day. Doug went on to graduate from John Muir High School in a large graduation ceremony at the Rose Bowl. He earned a job in 1937 at Lockheed as an electrician as he worked on machine motors.

Doug wanted to marry Pinky and so they planned for their future together. Pinky was working at a jewelry store in Burbank and so they bought an engagement ring with a diamond for $29.95 and paid for it a little bit each month. It was a lot of money at the time. The couple married on June 23rd, 1939, at a wedding chapel in Pasadena where they exchanged the traditional vows. For their honeymoon, they spent a few days at the Grand Canyon and visited his brother who lived in Boulder City, Nevada. After they were married, they'd get together with friends. A friend played the guitar while everyone sang the song, "You Are My Sunshine." That song really captured the love between Pinky and Doug, as they were each other's sunshine.

The couple purchased a lot of land in Burbank and had a house built on the lot in 1940. The couple was thrilled with the birth of their only son, Douglass Arthur Selby, who was born in a Magnolia Park Hospital on August 8th, 1942. Pinky stayed home with their son, whom they called Sonny. When Sonny was 5-years-old, Doug was drafted into the United States Army in 1945. Doug was stationed in Berlin, Germany, working as a radio repairman. He served from 1945 to 1949 and received the World War II Victory Medal. During this time, housing was very difficult to manage back home. Pinky got in touch with the USO and she met a newlywed couple from Massachusetts to share housing. The woman was named Norma and she was very kind. Norma's husband was serving in the Marines at Camp Pendleton so she moved in with Pinky and Sonny. Norma went to work for a newspaper so she could help with finances. Pinky remembers that Norma helped her survive. When she lost her appetite from being nervous, Norma made sure she ate. They were good friends.

After returning from the service in the U.S. Army, Doug got a job at the Caltech Wind Tunnel in Pasadena. Expanding his career, he got a job in an electrical contracting business for several years. When one of the partners passed away, the other partner bought out the business, which led Doug to a good job. He worked for the next 12 years as the Electrical Foreman for the City of Burbank. Pinky and Doug were so grateful for the steady job with good benefits and he liked the work. In the 1950s, Pinky worked at a gift shop in Burbank to help support the family as well.

Doug was a wonderful, involved father. He was a troop leader when Sonny was in Cub Scouts. When Sonny was in Boy Scouts, Doug was very busy helping with Troop 12 in Burbank. Sonny helped Doug with his electrical work now and then, learning with his dad. For three years, the family saved money for a special trip. In 1953, Sonny was 11-years-old at the time and the family took a special trip on the S. S. Lurline to Hawaii. They traveled on the Lurline ocean liner for four days. They spent the next three weeks in Hawaii, traveling all over the outer islands. It was an incredible trip and they earned it. Over the years, the family camped a lot and it was an enjoyable way of life. The family liked going on a hike when they camped. They started with a box trailer, grew into a small trailer, then a larger trailer and finally a motor home. On a special trip, they took the motor home all the way to Arkansas to visit friends. They enjoyed trips to Newport Beach and they'd go out on boats. Doug made a kayak out of wood and canvas and painted it white. The kayak looked beautiful on the water and it seated two. They'd paddle all around Newport Bay.

Pinky and Doug always had a good relationship with Sonny. Doug was proud of Sonny when he worked in the air conditioning business. They were really a well-balanced family with electrical and air conditioning experience. For Christmas, Pinky and Doug enjoyed traveling north to Roseville, east of Sacramento, to visit Sonny's family. Pinky and Doug were so happy that Sonny called them regularly by phone to keep in touch.

Doug loved listening to country music and owned many current CDs by talents such as Alan Jackson, George Strait, Loretta Lynn, and Alabama. He liked watching NASCAR on television, as Sonny and Linda liked watching it as well. Pinky and Doug were big collectors as they collected everything including Hummel Figurines, Precious Moments, Doughboys, Bob's Big Boy figurines, and Beanie Babies. Pinky and Doug collected rocks during all of their travels to build their backyard rock collection. They also did some lapidary work, cutting stones and slicing them with a diamond cutter. As a result of their work, they created beautiful stones and it was an art. They enjoyed going to antique shows together. Pinky and Doug also collected vintage glass insulators for telephone poles, amassing a nice collection. They sold the vintage insulators at a booth and participated in the first show. In honor of their participation, they received an award of recognition for "The First West Coast National Insulator Show in 1972," honoring their nice display. Sonny made them a sign that read, "Aqua Antiques by Doug Selby." Later, Sonny and Linda made them a beautiful wooden sign that still hangs in their home, "Selbyville," with hummingbirds on it. Doug loved watching the hummingbirds outside their window as they boiled sugar water for them and filled the feeders. Watching the hummingbirds was truly one of Doug's greatest pleasures.

Doug appreciated the simple pleasures in life. He liked most foods and was a simple eater, but he enjoyed his hamburger and noodles, especially one of the last times Pinky made it for him. In fact, he ate the whole dish. Outside their home, Doug flew an American flag on special occasions. And, the family was a hugging family. They always said, "I love you," a lot and Doug hugged Pinky and they often held hands. The couple lived in Burbank for 25 years before moving to Sun Valley, where they have lived for the last 43 years. Doug was a member of the Masons, Lodge 406. In 1963, he served as the Worshipful Master of the Masons. Pinky served as the Worthy Matron in The Order of the Eastern Star in 1962, and later Doug served as the Worthy Patron in 1967 in The Order of the Eastern Star, a fraternal organization for men and women. They were very involved in their community.

For their 50th wedding anniversary, they celebrated in Sacramento with family. They had a great trip to the Ford Museum. Sonny was a Ford man and very conscious of American cars. Pinky and Doug were proud to get an American made Oldsmobile in 1995. Doug also had a love of animals as they had Bambi, a silver poodle for 16 years.

After Doug retired, the couple spent seven summers at Lake Mammoth volunteering for the Forest Service. They also volunteered at Lake Mary and gained a wonderful experience, friendships and knowledge. Lake Mary had an altitude of 10,000 feet and after Doug had a heart attack in 1982, that ended the summer trips because of the high altitude. But, they had incredible memories. Sonny and his family traveled to visit Pinky and Doug on Thanksgiving, which was always fun to see the grandchildren, Kristin and Bryan.

So very proud of the American flag, when he was in the assisted care facility for the last four months, the staff said he got up each morning and went to the front door where he saluted the American flag. When Sonny died in December 2008, Pinky told Doug about Sonny's death. Later, he said, "I'll miss him." Just before Doug died, Pinky told him that everything was all right. She didn't want him to worry about her. Minutes later, he passed away. As Doug believed in God and Heaven, Pinky believes he is at peace and one day they will be reunited again.

The family's dentist recently told Pinky "Doug loved you move than anything." It was a true love story for 69 years of marriage and many years of togetherness before that. They were truly best friends and partners in life. They held hands a lot and through the years he was an excellent provider who was outgoing and friendly. Doug Selby will be remembered for his mannerisms, his patience, and his incredible way of getting along with people. He just loved people and he was a very good fellow. Pinky appreciates her husband so much and feels so lucky for having him in her life so long. Pinky will miss working together with him because he was her best friend. She truly feels blessed to have been with him for more than six decades. In her words, she said, "He had a good life and he was ready…"

Doug Selby was preceded in death by his parents Bertha and Victor; siblings Victor, Hilda, John, and Mary; and son Douglass. He is remembered by his loving wife Pinky; daughter-in-law Linda; grandchildren Kristin and Bryan; four great-grandchildren; nephews, nieces, extended relatives and many friends.

Memorial donations are welcome to the American Cancer Society www.cancer.org.