In Memoriam: Longtime Sea Bright Lover, 60-Year Ship Ahoy Beach Club Member, Gloria Doughty, 93

Longtime Sea Bright lover and 60-year Ship Ahoy Beach Club member, Gloria Doughty, who raised her family in Middletown, passed away peacefully, after a very brief illness, at Christiana Hospital, DE, on Oct. 26. She was 93.

“She met her husband Richard ‘Dick’ Doughty on the beaches of Sea Bright, where he was a lifeguard. They were married for 64 years at the time of his passing in 2020 at the age of 93. She and her husband were members of Ship Ahoy Beach Club for over 60 years. It was her happiest place, and she returned there as recently as this past summer … She was tough, self-confident, sharp, funny, organized and fiercely devoted to her family. Anyone who met her was amazed she was 93. She didn’t look or act her age and never let anything slow her down. She was the rock of her family. The loss of her presence will leave a huge hole in her family. She will be missed greatly but leaves us many stories about her.”

Loved ones of Gloria Doughty in her obituary

Gloria was born and raised in Rahway. She graduated from Rahway High School and worked as an executive secretary for Merck for many years.

After her marriage, she lived in Colonia and Ohio. She returned to New Jersey to raise her family in Middletown. After raising her children, she worked at Exhibit Surveys in Red Bank. She remained in her house until she was 88, then moved to Dover, DE to be closer to her husband and daughters.

In Dover, she remained very independent in her home until a few days before her death.

Gloria is survived by: her daughters, Leslie Hensley (Evan), of Dover DE, Susan Murphy, also of Dover; her son, Richard Doughty (Joan), of Eatontown; her grandchildren Evan Hensley III, Dylan Hensley (Talia), and Elise Hensley, Timothy and Trevor Murphy.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, Nov. 2, from 11:30 to 1 p.m. at Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St., Red Bank. A graveside service will follow the visitation at Fair View Cemetery, Middletown.

— Edited obituary prepared by family via Thompson Memorial Home