Dorothy Eberhardt Bolton

Dorothy Eberhardt Bolton, 98, went to be with her Lord on Sunday, May 16, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. She was born as Dorothy Lorraine Eberhardt to John Griffith Eberhardt (dec.) and Irene Pate Eberhardt (dec.), on October 5, 1922 in Owensboro, Kentucky. Dorothy grew up in rural Kentucky, and eventually graduated from Murray State University in 1942, with a degree in music. She recalled that when World War II began, all the young men seemed to suddenly disappear from campus. Dorothy was a teacher at an elementary school in Louisville, Kentucky, until she met and married her first husband, Rev. Audrey Pugh Granade (dec.). Together, they raised three beautiful girls: Susan E. Granade, Cynthia A. Granade, and Robin L. Brinker (Ronald). Dorothy was a dedicated Southern Baptist, and a devout Christian from childhood. Her top priorities were her faith and her family, and since she was married to a pastor, her two main interests often overlapped. When a life-threatening illness befell Rev. Granade, leaving him paralyzed, the family moved to Mobile, Alabama to be closer to his family. Dorothy resumed teaching to supplement the family income, first as a choral instructor at Vigor High School, and then as an English instructor at Sidney Phillips Junior High School, where she shared her knowledge with students for over 30 years before her eventual retirement. After Rev. Granade’s passing, Dorothy married her second husband, Vester Morris Bolton (dec.), and expanded her family to include a step-son, Gerald Bolton (Sandra). She has four grandchildren, Meredith Frey (John), Irene Brinker (Aubrey Stegall), Anna Granade, and Kelley Bolton, as well as three great-grandchildren, Finn Frey, Gage Giordano, and Clementine Giordano.

Dorothy was a soft-spoken woman with a big heart. She had a kind and pleasant disposition, but a stubborn streak that juxtaposed - she was not afraid to take a stand, and would not budge once her foot was planted! Dorothy was a musician from birth, playing the bass drum in her high school marching band. She also played the violin and piano, and carried a beautiful soprano voice which she used to worship with many church choirs. Dorothy loved keeping abreast of current events by devouring the daily newspaper (when it was daily), and enjoyed doing crossword puzzles when she was younger, which obviously would keep her mind sharp throughout her long life. She loved to travel, leading her to three trips abroad in her lifetime. Much like her contemporary, Imelda Marcos, Dorothy adored a cute pair of shoes, and enjoyed making her collection vast. She loved shopping, and kept her closets bursting at the seams with beautiful clothing! Dorothy was a class act, not an ounce of drama to her personality. She was selfless, demure, and loving. Dorothy was a member of The Great Generation that put her mark on the world, and will be greatly missed.

A memorial visitation will be held for Dorothy on Saturday, May 29, 2021 from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. at Pine Crest Funeral Home on Dauphin Island Parkway in Mobile, Alabama, with a memorial service immediately following in the chapel. Inurnment will be in Pine Crest Cemetery.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to: Saad Hospice and Inpatient Retreat Facility, 1515 South University Boulevard, Mobile, Alabama, 36609.