David C. Doughty, special-ed supervisor
While David C. Doughty Sr. was a special-education supervisor for Camden City public schools in 1966, he led worship services for a few months at a Presbyterian church in Brick Township.
While David C. Doughty Sr. was a special-education supervisor for Camden City public schools in 1966, he led worship services for a few months at a Presbyterian church in Brick Township.
He would take along his 10-year-old son, David, to play the piano before and after his preaching.
"I would learn one new hymn out of the hymnbook each week," Mr. Doughty's son said. "He would preach and I'd play two old ones and one new one."
It was a form of musical homework for the son, an exercise in continuing education for the father, and a way to keep in touch with his ministerial roots.
On Wednesday, Oct. 14, David C. Doughty Sr., 89, of Mount Laurel, who retired in 1988 after 20 years as the child study supervisor for Camden County public schools, died of heart failure at Virtua Marlton Hospital.
Mr. Doughty grew up in Voorhees, on the ground where the former Echelon Mall was built, and graduated from the former Brown Preparatory School near Audubon, said his son, now provost at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Va.
He graduated from Brown in February 1945 and served two years as an Army paratrooper in postwar Japan.
Mr. Doughty returned to the States to earn a bachelor's in philosophy at The King's College when it was in New Castle, Del., and a bachelor of divinity at Faith Theological Seminary when it was in Wilmington.
In 1955, his son said, Mr. Doughty founded the Cherry Tree Bible Church near Titusville, Pa., where he was the pastor until 1959.
He moved to South Jersey, taught special-education classes at two public schools in Camden, and earned a master's in 1966 in special education at what is now Rowan University.
In quick succession, his son said, Mr. Doughty became the child study supervisor for all public schools in Atlantic County in 1967 and then for Camden County in 1968.
"He started by teaching disturbed kids" at a Camden City school, his son said, and used a point system of rewards.
"If they behaved, they got points," he said, "and if they didn't, they lost points."
And, he said, "if they got enough points, he took them bowling."
Besides his son, Mr. Doughty is survived by his wife, Jean, daughter Francine Palmeter, five grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter. His first wife, Francine, died in 1996.
A viewing was set from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 19, at the Red Lion Faith Chapel, 118 Red Lion Rd., Southampton, N.J., 08088, before an 11 a.m. funeral there.
Donations may be sent to the chapel at the above address.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.bradleyfhmarlton.com.
610-313-8134@WNaedele