Dorothy W. Fox

Dorothy W. Fox, 99, died in Bellevue at the home of her granddaughter, (Dorothy) Jan Fox Ahten at approximately 3:15 a.m. Tuesday, March 20, 2007.

She was born July 22, 1907, in Winterstown, York County, Pa., the third of four daughters, to Blanche Lowe Waltemyer and Joseph Waltemyer.

Her father was a truck farmer sharecropper and her mother and sister worked in a nearby cigar factory.

Dorothy was a self-educated, cultured woman. She worked her way up — never applied or asked for a job but worked for more than 75 years of her life.

She started as a babysitter and helper for Doc Ruhl, a pharmacist, and his wife in York, Pa., and in Ocean City, N.J., where they spent their summers. In her late teens she started work in a drug store, then department store notions, and ladies’ ready-to-wear and in six or more other women’s wear stores in sales, buying and management positions. She owned her own exclusive women’s wear boutique for about 10 years and then worked out of New York selling bridal veils to stores all over the U.S. and Canada.

During World War II her work in women’s wear was temporarily interrupted because she was recruited to work for General Electric when one of her customers said, “My husband needs you.”

Dorothy was always involved in craftwork; needle point, knitting, crocheting, crewel and embroidery. After “retiring” from these career jobs, she did alterations for many different individuals.

Dorothy was a good swimmer and enjoyed fishing, tennis, badminton, hiking and gardening. Her Junkers’ Antiquing group was a source of many good friends, but there were many others. She was a party person — even on Whidbey Island at the Holmes Harbor Rod & Gun Club and the Senior Center.

Special pleasures for her were quality visits with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She met Morris Fox, her future husband, when she went home from the store to dinner at a girlfriend’s home and there was the friend’s brother.

The couple married the following year on July 23, l932. They moved directly into a new house in York that Morris designed and lived in that same house for 60 years. Dorothy used her creative talents to turn the house into a beautiful home.

Shortly after their 60th wedding anniversary, they moved to Possession Shores on Whidbey Island. The house was smaller than the York home, but they enjoyed the view, water, deer, people in the community and living next to their daughter, Jo Etta, and her husband Dave Dillman.

Dorothy and Morris had only one daughter. They had seven grandchildren including: Lauri Jo Hollist (Larry), Herb Ahten III (Raffaella), D. Jan Fox Ahten, Jen Herrington (Lewis), Morris Fox, Michael Ahten (Dina) and David Ahten (Lauren). Step-grandchildren are Scott Dillman, Holly Gillen (Roman), Steve Dillman (Mimi) and Kris Bialek (Mike). Dorothy has 11 great-grandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren.

A viewing and memorial service were held on Friday, March 23, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland. A viewing, memorial service and funeral will be held in hometown York on Friday,

March 30.

In her later years Dorothy suffered with diabetes and the incumbent complications. Memorials may be sent to JDC (Junior Diabetes Run – Beat the Bridge – Seattle), to Caitlin Cassot c/o Dillman at 4169 Possession Shores Road, Clinton, WA 98236. Caitlin’s little stepsister has had juvenile diabetes since she was two. This is the fifth year Caitlin has been in this event. Caitlin, Dorothy’s great- granddaughter, is 15.