Douglas Murphy Upton, 67, of Daleville, Mississippi, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on April 8, 2023 after a courageous battle with cancer. Funeral services will be 11:00 am Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at Hebron United Methodist Church in Cochrane with Rev. Dr. Gene Lankford officiating and Skelton Funeral Home of Reform directing. Military Honors will be conducted at the end of the service. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Elbert Douglas Upton and Elizabeth Martha Bridges Upton.
Survivors include his wife, Laura McCuen Upton; his daughters, Nikki Haltiwanger (Freddie), Sarah McCranie (Danny), Katie French (Jamie) and Kelly Mangold (DJ); step-children, Jodi Strock (Justin), Dustin Poretskin and Bonnie Johnson; brothers, Ernie Upton (Linda), Roy Upton and Gene Upton (Cassondra); ten grandchildren, Maddie Haltiwanger, Parker McCranie, Ayden French, Westen French, Summer Mangold, Presley McCranie, Hatcher Mangold, Skylar Kaye Mangold, Stella Mangold and Remy French and five step-grandchildren, Ezra Johnson, Dustin Poretskin, Jr. (DJ), Kahya Strock, Kennedy Poretskin and Corbin Strock.
Doug was born December 17, 1955 in Macon, Mississippi. He was a long time member of Hebron United Methodist Church. Doug was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the USAF in May of 1978 from the University of Alabama. He attended flight training at Chandler AFB in Arizona. Following pilot training, he flew C130s for many years while stationed in Alaska and North Carolina. He flew 707s and 727s while stationed at Andrews AFB. Doug finished his 20 year Air Force career while stationed in South Carolina where he retired as a Lt Col. While serving his country, Doug participated in the U.S. Invasion of Grenada, Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He was highly decorated and received numerous awards while serving. Doug continued to fly many different aircraft in locations around the world including South America and Africa until just recently. He loved his country and served it well and made the world a safer place for all of us.
No matter where he was in the world, he would always find a way to cheer on his Crimson Tide. When not flying, Doug loved to spend time with his wife and their pups watching their grandkids running around "their little slice of heaven" at Southland Ranch in Daleville, Mississippi. Doug will be loved and missed by all that knew him.