Adkins, Dorothy Ellen 1919-2018

ADKINS, HENDERSON, LUMAN, ANDERSON, DAVIS, MCNAMARA, MCKENNA, BAARDA, HANNAH, FLEETWOOD, BURNHAM, SCHOENWALD, BOAT, BROWN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 7/13/2021 at 21:35:34

Dorothy Ellen Adkins, 99, of Grinnell, died July 16, 2018, at St. Francis Manor in Grinnell.

A memorial service has been scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 21 at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell with Rev. Steve Savage, Grinnell First Friends Church, officiating. Visitation with the family present will be prior to the memorial service from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be designated to the Drake Community Library in Grinnell.

Dorothy was born July 11, 1919, in Mouton, the daughter of Lloyd Guthrie and Mary Lorella Henderson Luman. She was raised in Humeston, and was a 1935 graduate of Humeston High School where she was salutatorian of her graduating class.

On Jan. 31, 1937, she was united in marriage with Dale Thomas Adkins in Missouri. A union of 75 years! Dorothy began her married life in Grinnell, and continued to live and work there until her retirement April 30, 1984. They then became “winter Texans” in Mission, Texas. While living in Mission, she enjoyed bowling, playing cards, a variety of games and participating in the annual Citrus Festival parade. She also enjoyed skits and programs in the RV Park and socializing with her many friends. Dorothy was usually the provider of playing games, rules expert and scorekeeper. She learned to piece quilt tops and made several for family members.

While living in Grinnell, she was employed with the Grinnell Shoe Factory, Grinnell Glove Factory and Grinnell Herald Register. For many years, she was a secretary at Grinnell College Development Office and later the physical plant. She was well-respected by her employers.

Dorothy believed in being a participant in whatever endeavor she undertook which lead to being an officer in several organizations including Eastern Star, White Shrine, American Legion Auxiliary, Rebecca’s and the VFW Auxiliary. She also volunteered her secretarial skills many times to those groups and other organizations.

Dorothy was a generous person and always eager to share what she had. She was well organized, creative, willing, smart, helpful, mannerly, a great cook and had beautiful penmanship.

Survivors include her daughter, Sherrill L. Anderson of Grinnell; a son-in-law, Jim Davis of Newton, Miss.; nine grandchildren, Dennis (Trish) Davis of Bella Vista, Ark., Jennifer (Bill) McNamara of LaRussell, Mo., Debra (Steve) McNamara of Joplin, Mo., Chris (Hope) Davis of Decatur, Miss., Vicki (Mike) McKenna of Grinnell, Joellyn (Kent) Baarda of Sully, Shelly (Bruce) Hannah of Grinnell, Angela (Dan Clayton) Fleetwood of Grinnell and Craig Burnham of Grinnell; two nieces, Judy (Henry) Schoenwald of Batesville, Ark., and Charlene (Pat) Boat of Grinnell; 23 great-grandchildren; and 11 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Dale; a daughter, Nancy Ann Davis; sons-in-law, Kenneth Burnham and Rick Anderson; and her sister, Barbara Brown. ~ The Newton (IA) Daily News, Thurs 19 July 2018.