William Douglas Worthington

William Douglas Worthington

“Doug”

William Douglas “Doug” Worthington passed away December 18, 2022 at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Bel Air, Maryland. Born at home December 13, 1937, on Rock Run Road in Havre De Grace, Maryland to Aubrey Goldsmith Worthington and Kathryn Elizabeth (Craig) Worthington, he was preceded in death by his parents. He was 85 years old.

A life-long farmer and custom harvester in Harford County, Doug’s career in agriculture started as a child doing chores on the Worthington family dairy and crop farms at Rock Run. He demonstrated an enterprising spirit and good work ethic early on by starting his own lawn mowing and milk can hauling businesses. These early initiatives served to support what grew to be his love of wheeled vehicles, commencing with a motor scooter, progressing to fast motorcycles and cars, and evolving to John Deere tractors and combines. Working both with the Worthington family and independently, as a young father and farmer, he branched off into a career in the custom harvesting business which continued right up to the fall season of his passing. His cousins, Bill Craig and Tom Worthington, ever present throughout his illness, conducted the fall harvest. Immediately prior to the recent complexities of a worsening illness, Doug enjoyed cutting and baling hay, assisting his son and grandsons work with the beef cattle, regular breakfasts out with close cousins and farmer friends as well as watching NASCAR and football with his son Aubrey.

Doug’s belief in agricultural preservation and open space supported over 480 acres of family farmland being entered into the Harford County Agricultural Preservation Program. After partnering many years with his wife Linda Browning Worthington, in 2020/2021 Harford County Soil Conservation District’s Cooperator of the Year recognition was received for the Eaton Farm on Lapidum Road for numerous and diverse conservation initiatives. The purpose for such recognition is the cooperator’s partnership with federal, state and local governments in the protection and conservation of natural resources within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Prior to Doug and Linda’s purchase of Eaton in 1986, it had been owned by developers speculating along the I95 corridor and then fallen into a derelict state. When the developers disengaged, the court divided the 216 acre farm in half for the settlement. The Worthingtons purchased one half at auction and months later, succeeded in purchasing the second half, ultimately fully restoring it. In 1994, it was the largest farm in the State of Maryland to be saved from development and preserved in Harford County’s Agricultural Preservation Program.

Doug is survived by his second wife Linda and children from his first marriage. Daughters Mary K. Schweers (Herman); Linda S. Gishcel (William); son, William Aubrey Worthington and wife Jennie K., his devoted and loving caregiver; grandchildren, Eric A. Moses, Brittany E. Gischel (Michael Bradley), Justin D. (Victoria Blevins) and Matthew A. (Jamie Cooper) Worthington. Great-grandchildren Kylie and Brooklyn Moses and April and Hank Worthington.

Services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks to please contribute in his memory to the Rock Run United Methodist Church, 4102 Rock Run Road, Havre De Grace, MD 21078.