Douglas Lee Poli

Douglas Lee "Doug" Poli, age 69, of Fort Worth, Texas, passed away on May 31, 2026. He leaves behind a legacy of steady strength, quiet devotion, and a brilliant, inventive mind.

Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in October 1956, Doug was raised by his parents, Nancy Poli and the late David Poli as the oldest of five children. Following his youth there, his natural talent for figuring out how things worked led him to California. He attended the Northrop Institute of Technology in Inglewood, California, graduating in 1975 with his Airframe and Powerplants license.

In 1989, Doug married his wife, Ellen. Together, they settled in Fort Worth, Texas, creating a welcoming home and a wonderful life together.

Doug was a master of his craft. He channeled his engineering mind and sharp creativity into a highly specialized career as an expert aviation mechanic for SX-300 aircraft. He possessed a rare, old-school work ethic, taking immense pride in the precision of his work and the life he built. He had been looking forward to his well-earned retirement this coming October.

While Doug was a reserved man, his actions spoke volumes. He was the absolute rock of his family, providing a quiet, unshakable foundation for those he loved. He was incredibly proud of his daughters and found immense joy in watching his grandchildren grow.

He is survived by his wife, Ellen Poli; his mother, Nancy Poli of Summerfield, Florida; his daughters and sons-in-law, Taylor and Chad Phillips of Pensacola, Florida, and Emily and Chris Armstrong of Fort Worth, Texas; and his two cherished grandchildren, Lucas and Maddie Phillips. He is also survived by his siblings: Daniel Poli (Ruth) of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Susan Clausen (Keith) of Roswell, New Mexico; Timothy Poli of Fort Worth, Texas; and Diann Poli Vogt of Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was preceded in death by his father, David Poli.

A celebration of Doug's life will be held on Thursday, June 25, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM at Lucas Funeral Home, located at 1321 Precinct Line Road, Hurst, Texas.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated the following day, Friday, June 26, 2026, at 11:00 AM at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, located at 7341 Glenview Drive, North Richland Hills, Texas. Following the Mass, Doug will be laid to rest at Smithfield Cemetery in a small, private burial ceremony reserved for family.

In honor of Doug's lifelong passion for aviation, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, please consider honoring his memory with a gift to the Tarrant County College Foundation. Online donations can be made through the TCC Foundation Donation Page, where you can designate your contribution directly to the Aviation Maintenance Technology program by specifying the program name on the form.

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