Douglas E. Stover

Douglas E. Stover, a dad, papa, author, historian, and world traveler, passed away in Norfolk, VA on October 31, 2025 at the age of 67. Born July 11, 1958, he was a native of Cohasset, Massachusetts and longtime resident of Nags Head, North Carolina

Doug began his career with the U.S. Department of the Interior/National Park Service in 1981 as a Landscape Architect Intern assigned to The White House in Washington, DC. While there, he performed White House projects on commemorative trees and plantings, designed the president’s patio, press area, flower beds of The Rose Garden, and the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden.

Doug held several other positions with the National Park Service such as Supervisory Gardener, Museum Curator, and Historian and Park Manager. He worked at The White House, George Washington Memorial Parkway, National Capital Parks-East (Frederick Douglass, Fort Washington, Mary Bethune NHS), and the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park.

Doug retired after 32 years with the National Park Service in the position of Cultural Resources Manager/ and Historian at the Outer Banks Group, which included Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Wright Brothers National Monument, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and Cape Lookout National Seashore. In this position, he was responsible for documenting, researching and managing the park’s extensive historical structures, archeological and submerged shipwreck sites, cultural landscapes, and library and museum collections.

Doug represented the National Park Service on international projects dealing with historic preservation and cultural resource management. He also served as an Advance Firefighter Squad Boss on wildland fires and as a Planning Section Chief on Hurricane Damage Assessment Teams. Doug was also a diver documenting shipwrecks off the Outer Banks.

In pre-retirement years, Doug served as a Cultural Heritage Consultant for the United Nations and US Government on Cultural Resource Management Projects. His travels on projects took him to over 70 countries and on all seven continents.

Doug was also an author and editor of several books and videos such as Images of America, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, 2015 Deciphering Roanoke Mystery, 2016, Images of America, Outer Banks Scenic Byway, 2016 and Wright Brothers National Memorial, 2019. He contributed to many articles in various publications as well.

He also served as a board member of the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society, Friends of the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, Pea Island Preservation Society, Vice Chair of the North Carolina Maritime History Council and Chairman of the Friend of the Outer Banks History Center in Manteo from 2006 to 2012. Doug received several awards including an international award: 2004 Freedom Star Award, UGRR, 2003 Virginia Dare Award, NSDAR, 2000 Partnership Award, Coastal America, 1998 International Curator of the Year, France, North Carolina Historic Preservation Award (2013) and the President (2012) and the Founder Award (2013) from the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society and Monitor National Marine Sanitary, and NOAA Award (2014). He received an International Historic Preservation Award for his work on the Notre Dame Cathedral restoration in Paris, France.

Doug enjoyed getting involved in community non-profits organization. He especially enjoyed helping out in local history projects of the Outer Banks and traveling to places had not visited outside of his 70 countries work assignments.   Most of all, Doug loved spending time with his family and playing with his grandson, Mason.

Doug was preceded in death by his son, Andrew Stover. He is survived by his wife, Joan Stover of the Nags Head, NC residence; daughter, Jennifer Schneider (Cory) of Powells Point, NC; grandson, Mason; sisters, Cynthia Stover and Carol Gargiulo, both of Kill Devil Hills, NC; brother, William Stover of Massachusetts; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who were all blessed to know him.

Doug’s celebration of life will be held at 3 pm, Sunday, November 9, 2025 at Powells Point Christian Church. Doug’s urn will be interred at Washington National Cemetery a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations in Doug’s honor may be made to Powells Point Christian Church.

Expressions of sympathy are welcome at gallopfuneralservices.com.  Gallop Funeral Services was entrusted with arrangements.