Dr. Benjamin Douglas M.D.

Published 2:59 pm Monday, March 24, 2025

Benjamin Douglas, 75, of Tryon passed away peacefully at his home on March 16 with his wife Kathleen at his side. 

Born in Tryon, Ben was the son of Mary and Benjamin Douglas. Born in Tryon, he spent his early childhood in a small town outside Albany, NY, and when he was 7 the family moved to Tryon to be near his mother’s family. Ben was active in Boy Scouts and Pony Club. In his teens, he competed in many equestrian events, both local and nationally, and he hunted as one of the youngest members of the Tryon Hounds. 

Ben received the Morehead Scholarship in his senior year at Tryon High School and went on to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, both undergraduate and medical school. In this time he enlisted in the US Army, and after receiving his medical degree he was stationed in Germany, Walter Reed Hospital, and several other posts, completing his military career at the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Upon leaving the army, Ben founded Mountain Ear, Nose, and Throat Associates in Sylva, NC, from which he retired in 2019 after 35 years of private practice. At that time he and Kathleen settled on their horse farm in the Hunting Country in Tryon, where he enjoyed resuming the equestrian activities of his youth. Ben is remembered lovingly by family and friends for his energy, his quick wit and lively sense of humor, as well as his humility and kindness. Most important to him were his family and the many close relationships he cultivated through the years. Most especially those relationships with his patients, co-workers, and the honest, hard-working people of Western North Carolina.

Ben is survived by his wife, Kathleen; his children Kimberly, Benjamin, Stratford, Riggs, Kacin, and Riha; and siblings Mollie Turner, Ellen Douglas, Strat Douglas, and Marianne Carruth, as well as many, many brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.  

A service will follow this summer when all of his children are able to attend. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to FENCE or FETA in Polk County.

An online guest register is available at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com

McFarland Funeral Chapel

Tryon