Douglas Philip Metzger (April 22, 1942 - March 22, 2026)
Doug Metzger, aged 83, was called by Jesus to his eternal home on March 22, 2026 surrounded by his loving family. Born on April 22, 1942 in East Stroudsburg, PA, Doug lived a life defined by love, service, and ministry. Despite battling cancer for over the last twenty years, Doug remained devoted and passionate to his callings; his life was a testament to love, family, and serving his Lord and Savior.
Doug attended public school in East Stroudsburg, K-12. Doug would letter in three sports and be his Class President. He would also serve the Honor Society and Student Council as President, as well as sing in the Glee Club and play trumpet in the band. After graduation, he attended East Stroudsburg University for one year before entering the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD in 1961. He would graduate on June 9, 1965 and receive a commission as an Ensign in the United States Navy. At the Academy, he lettered in Plebe soccer, served on the Brigade Honor Committee and was the 30th Company Commander for the Winter and Spring sets of his final year. He was a proud graduate.
Doug would serve seven years in the Navy, two years as a Surface Warfare Officer onboard the USS Gridley (DLG 21) which twice deployed to the Western Pacific in support of the Vietnam War. He then schooled for six months at the Naval Supply Corps School in Athens, GA where he met his wife Leslie, a Naval Officer herself. Following Supply Corps School, he spent the last five years of his Naval service in the Amphibious Navy in Little Creek, VA. There he would serve as the Supply Officer of the USS Donner (LSD 20) and then on the Amphibious Commander Atlantic’s staff.
It was during his sixth year in the Navy that Doug experienced a radical Damascus Road type of Christian conversion. Within six months, he received a calling from God to enter the Gospel ministry. He would resign his commission and a year later find himself preparing for the ministry at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX (1972-1975). There he graduated with a Master of Divinity degree. He would return to his hometown to pastor the First Baptist Church (1975-1977). From there he would go on to pastor churches in Willingboro, NJ; Savannah, GA; Riverside, CA; and Yucaipa, CA, partly interrupted twice by serving his denomination at the Baptist Home Mission Board in Atlanta (1981-1984) and the North American Mission Board in Alpharetta, GA (1997-2005).
Doug was known for his sweet spirit, his compassion for others, and his desire to lead people into relationship with Jesus and deeper knowledge of Him. He loved God and it showed by his love for expounding God’s Word from the pulpit and caring for and ministering to people both inside and outside the church during his over fifty years of ministry. Many he shepherded still today refer to him as their pastor.
In retirement, Doug and Leslie first made their home in Canton, GA from where Doug continued to serve the Lord and its churches as an interim pastor and fill-in Bible study leader. For the last part of retirement, they moved to Richmond Hill, GA. Racing to the finish line, Doug in recent years taught a senior adult Bible study, was a regular contributor to The Saints Prison Ministry newsletter New Creation, and this past October shared the Gospel at his 60th Naval Academy class reunion memorial service.
He is survived by his wife of fifty-seven years, Leslie and their three children, Tracey (Dale), Doug Jr. (Karolyn), and Brad (Kim), and by eight grandchildren - Kaitlin, Jacob, Julia, Luke, Ella, Reagan, Cole, and Ben.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in his honor be made to the Dementia Society of America (https://www.dementiasociety.org), Emmanuel International Mission (https://eim-us.org) or Hope Grows (https://www.hopegrows.ca).
Richmond Hill Funeral Home
8901 Ford Ave.
P.O. Box 999
Richmond Hill, GA 31324
(912) 756-7575
https://www.coxrichmondhillfh.com/obituary/douglas-metzger