Douglas D. Smith, Ph.D. (88), a long-time resident of Winnebago County passed away on May 11, 2026. He was born May 21, 1937, in Portage, WI to Glen Lyle and Evelyn May (Nitz) Smith. He grew up enjoying fishing, hunting, working at the A&W, and playing basketball.

Following graduation from UW-Platteville, he married his college sweetheart Janet Faye Green of Pecatonica, IL. He was grateful for National Science Foundation support for his graduate education at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the Ohio State University, the start of his becoming an avid Ohio State Buckeye fan.

He found his calling as a high school chemistry and physics teacher at Auburn and Guilford High Schools in Rockford, IL. He was honored to receive national recognition for teaching with the James Bryant Conant Award in High School Chemistry Teaching. Doug and Janet, also a teacher, lived in Rockton for many years sharing a commitment to education.

After Janet’s untimely passing, Doug was fortunate in his retirement to find love again and marry Margery Evanson Orr, a math teacher at Guilford. They moved to Wesley Willows and had many happy years enjoying extensive travels before Margery’s death.

Doug is survived by children Glen Smith (Terri), Alice Stuhlmacher (Jim), Linda Smith (Jim Chamings), granddaughters Michelle Stuhlmacher (Bijan Fakhri), Anna Draughon (Gabriel), step-grandsons Adam and Eric Zace, grandson Alexander Smith, great-grandson Luca, and an aunt, Larryane Crawford.

A Celebration of Life and reception is planned for 2:00 p.m. Saturday May 30, at Wesley Willows-Willows Arbor 4141 N. Rockton Ave, Rockford, IL, 61103. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the RISE Scholarship Fund at Wesley Willows, which supports employees pursuing further education in the medical field. Donations may be mailed to Wesley Willows, Attn: Natasha McNeal, at the address above, or made online at https://www.wesleywillows.org/make-a-donation.