Dorothy Louise Dankworth

On March 1, 2018, Dorothy Louise (Hepler) Dankworth went home to be with God. She was born March 16, 1925 in Kane, PA of Harvey R. Hepler and Mariam “Viola” (Mesler) (Hepler) Green. She was raised by her Uncle and Aunt, Otto and Agnes (Mesler) Gnage in Warren, PA who became her loving parents. Later in life, Dorothy met several siblings from her biological father Wilson B. Dodge of West Kane, PA.

Dorothy is survived by two sons: Gary L. (Doris) Dankworth, Sr. of Troy and Jerry L. (Barbara) Dankworth, Sr. of Bradford; daughter Sharon (Fred) Justice of Troy; 14 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; 28 great-great-grandchildren; four brothers: Harold Gnage of North Warren, PA, Alfred Gnage of Warren, PA, Marlin Dodge of Indiana, and Wilson Dodge of Indiana; sister Barbara (Dodge) Cottongin of Indiana; as well as daughter-in-law Loretta “Peach” Dankworth of Fletcher.

She was preceded in death by husband John R. Dankworth; son Terry G. Dankworth, Sr.; grandson Theodore W. Justice; six sisters; and seven brothers.

Dorothy ventured away from home at 15 in search of work to help her family. She found work at the Salvation Army with the band, as well as the Warren State Hospital Psychiatric Ward, Warren, PA, plane spotter during WWII as part of the Ground Observation Corp., Olean, NY, Rosie the Riveter for a subdivision of Bel Air in Buffalo, NY. She moved to Troy in search of work as a Rosie the Riveter. Once in Troy, she worked jobs such as waitressing, newspaper carrier for the Troy Daily News, Green Thumb, Scope, ARC of Miami Co., and Head Start.

Dorothy was a long-time member of the Troy Gospel Tabernacle, where she played her tambourine and taught Sunday School and was most recently a member of the Church of the Nazarene in Piqua. She cherished her time with her siblings, children, all her grandchildren, and God.

A funeral service will be held 2:00PM Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at Fisher-Cheney Funeral Home, Troy with Rev. Lincoln Robinson and Pastor Steve Spoon officiating. Visitation will be from 12:00PM-2:00PM at the funeral home prior to the service. Friends may also call to the funeral home on Monday, March 5 from 4:00PM-7:00PM. Interment will be in Miami Memorial Park, Covington. Arrangements entrusted to Fisher-Cheney Funeral Home, Troy, OH. 

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