Douglas Grant Solt

Douglas Grant Solt was born on December 6, 1933, to Clarence and Thelma Solt in Jermyn, Pennsylvania, and passed away on July 13, 2026, at the age of 92. He grew up across the street from his grandparents and his uncles, John and Chester, helping them with farming, chores, and milking cows. As he grew older, he worked with his uncles in their excavating business, where he learned to work on and operate anything with an engine. At the age of 18, he served in the United States Army. He later earned his degree in civil engineering and designed bridges.

After being discharged from the Army, he served in the United States Air Force Reserve. Throughout his life, Doug worked in many different places, including the coal mines and the railroad, building a reputation as someone who could figure out, fix, and operate almost anything. 

Doug decided to leave Pennsylvania and head for California, but he never made it that far. He stopped in Colorado and met a girl while cruising at the Scotchman whom he knew he could not live without. The traffic cop who patrolled the Scotchman would save the spot next to him until Rosalee showed up. Doug and Rosalee were married on August 11, 1962. Together they had four children: Alesia, Ronnie, Jimmie, and Anthony “B.B.”

In Colorado, Doug worked briefly in the steel mill and as a mechanic at a gas station at night. He went on to work for the Colorado State Highway Department, designing bridges until his retirement. He loved riding his motorcycle and building and drag racing his cars at the Julesburg dragstrip, which was—and still is—an airport. The races would temporarily stop while a plane landed, then start up again. He also enjoyed growing houseplants and gardening.

After retirement, Doug started Basically Organic Landscaping, Inc., along with a maintenance company to care for the landscaping he installed. Ronnie ran the maintenance company, which also employed Alesia and Jimmie. 

Doug spent many weekends, especially during the summer, in Steamboat Springs. He loved fishing and would take Rosalee and all four kids to the river or the lake. Then he would walk along the banks, away from the chaos of four children, so he could actually catch a fish. He also hunted elk and guided many horseback hunting trips in the mountains near Steamboat, spending two weeks at a time sleeping in the bunkhouse and cooking on the wood stove.

Once Anthony began competing in speed skating, many weekends were spent traveling around the country for skating meets. Later, when his grandson, little Anthony “Goobie,” started playing hockey, weekends were filled with travel and hockey games.

Doug was an avid Colorado Avalanche fan. When the Avalanche lost, he did not stop watching hockey—he simply rooted for one of his other favorite teams.

Doug loved collecting things and had many different collections, including cars, tractors, lawn mowers, equipment, antique copper items, antique crocks, Victrolas, furniture, R.S. Prussia glassware, and cast-iron skillets, to name a few. One of his favorite things to collect was Aladdin lamps, and he had more than 50 of them.

Doug was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Thelma Solt, and his son, James Douglas Solt.

He is survived by his wife, Rosalee Solt; his children, Alesia (Je􀆯), Ronald (Laura), and Anthony; his grandchildren, Jordan Carwin, Rachel Carwin, Anthony L. Solt, Madison Faulkner, Ian Servantes, and Randy Ivey; and his sister, Karen Laurynas. His special kitty “Rambo”.