Dixie Jean Bolton, 85, died Nov. 8, 2003, at Island Villa, Oak Harbor.

She was born April 14, 1918, in Wichita, Kan. She grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, until she was a senior in high school. She was a fine pianist and artist and loved ballet.

In 1934 the family moved to San Marino, Calif., where Dixie attended UCLA for awhile and then Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa. In 1942 she graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City and found acting to be her career choice. She modeled with Lauren Bacall while attending school. Summer stock followed in Stamford, Conn., where she had leading roles in such plays as “Ladies in Retirement,” “Dream Girl” and “Lion in Winter.”

During a visit to her family in Tacoma she became interested in the Tacoma Little Theatre, where she met George Bolton. They were married in 1946. They were often seen riding their bicycles around Tacoma. Together they produced and directed shows for the playhouses in Jamestown and Rome, N.Y., for many years. In Jamestown Dixie met Lucille Ball’s mother and then Lucy herself, who became a friend and encouraged the Boltons to work at the Jamestown Little Theatre.

The couple moved to Boston when George became the senior director at the Leland Powers School there. She then returned to her lifelong loves of collecting books and reading. The couple later retired to Windsor, Vt., where they loved the beautiful rolling hills and the winter snow.

When her husband died in 1992, Mrs. Bolton moved to Langley to be closer to family. She was often seen walking around Langley and riding the bus to Freeland.

She is survived by two sisters, Mary Calegari in Colorado and Jayne Holland; a niece and nephew on South Whidbey, Lafe Lawyer and Wendy Carlson; and other nieces and nephews in Colorado.

At Mrs. Bolton’s request, there will be no funeral services.