Dorothy Gray
February 8th, 1927 - September 8th, 2023
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Dorothy's Obituary
Dorothy Jean (Zick, Dunham) Gray, 96, of Winchester, VA, formerly of St. Joseph, MI, passed away on Friday, September 8, 2023 in Winchester. She was born in 1927 to Ernest and Clara Zick in South Bend, Indiana.
Dorothy graduated from Dowagiac High School in 1944 with a two-year scholarship to WMU. After two years at WMU she began teaching at Bedinger School. While teaching at Landon, Baroda and Lakeshore Schools, she received her Master’s Degree from MSU in 1965. Dorothy taught a total of 40 years. Her last 25 years were in the field of Special Education. She was President of the Council of Exceptional Children in Berrien County and was also a lifelong member of Delta Kappa Gamma. After retiring in 1988, Dorothy volunteered for the Peace Partners Tutoring and Mentoring Program at Benton Harbor Peace Temple. Dorothy spent her last 11 years at Westminster in Winchester, VA. During her time at Westminster, she volunteered at Quarles School.
In 1948, she married Lowell Dunham and had two daughters, Dawn (Dunham) Clark and Karen (Dunham) Darby. She divorced in 1973 and married Morton Gray in 1979. Morton preceded her in 2001. Dorothy was also preceded in death by a sister (Ruth) and three brothers (Ernest, Arthur and Harry Zick).
Dorothy is survived by her beloved daughters - Dawn Clark and Karen Darby; five grandchildren – Christin Clark, Jesse VonFange, Stephen VonFange, Karie Falkenstein, Katie Platz; two great-grandchildren – Kit Platz and Johann Falkenstein; and one very devoted and beloved sister - Sheri Holt.
Dorothy was a member of the Braddock St. First United Methodist Church and the very special Oglesby Sunday School Class where they sponsored The Evans Home for boys and girls who had no parents. A special thanks to her very special friends Jane and John.
Dorothy will be remembered as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister and teacher. She was an encourager, loved people as evidenced by her family and the many students she had over the years.
Funeral Services to celebrate Dorothy’s life will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, September 19 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, where friends may visit with the family from 10:00 AM until the time of services. Interment will follow in Riverview Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Joseph United Methodist Church or to a charity of your choice. Those wishing to share a memory of Dorothy online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Dorothy graduated from Dowagiac High School in 1944 with a two-year scholarship to WMU. After two years at WMU she began teaching at Bedinger School. While teaching at Landon, Baroda and Lakeshore Schools, she received her Master’s Degree from MSU in 1965. Dorothy taught a total of 40 years. Her last 25 years were in the field of Special Education. She was President of the Council of Exceptional Children in Berrien County and was also a lifelong member of Delta Kappa Gamma. After retiring in 1988, Dorothy volunteered for the Peace Partners Tutoring and Mentoring Program at Benton Harbor Peace Temple. Dorothy spent her last 11 years at Westminster in Winchester, VA. During her time at Westminster, she volunteered at Quarles School.
In 1948, she married Lowell Dunham and had two daughters, Dawn (Dunham) Clark and Karen (Dunham) Darby. She divorced in 1973 and married Morton Gray in 1979. Morton preceded her in 2001. Dorothy was also preceded in death by a sister (Ruth) and three brothers (Ernest, Arthur and Harry Zick).
Dorothy is survived by her beloved daughters - Dawn Clark and Karen Darby; five grandchildren – Christin Clark, Jesse VonFange, Stephen VonFange, Karie Falkenstein, Katie Platz; two great-grandchildren – Kit Platz and Johann Falkenstein; and one very devoted and beloved sister - Sheri Holt.
Dorothy was a member of the Braddock St. First United Methodist Church and the very special Oglesby Sunday School Class where they sponsored The Evans Home for boys and girls who had no parents. A special thanks to her very special friends Jane and John.
Dorothy will be remembered as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister and teacher. She was an encourager, loved people as evidenced by her family and the many students she had over the years.
Funeral Services to celebrate Dorothy’s life will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, September 19 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, where friends may visit with the family from 10:00 AM until the time of services. Interment will follow in Riverview Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Joseph United Methodist Church or to a charity of your choice. Those wishing to share a memory of Dorothy online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
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