Dorothy married the late Jim Larson on July 1, 1944, and the couple honeymooned in Texas while Jim completed pilot training. Afterward while her new husband flew bombing missions overseas, Dorothy remained on the home front in Lake Forest, IL, volunteered in numerous war support activities, and enrolled in Lake Forest College. After the war, the couple undertook their lives as a United States Air Force family. This meant postings on Air Force bases as far away as the Philippines, Japan, Guam, London, and Germany. During that time, Dorothy became the mother of five loving children: Barbara (Jeff) Larson Greene of Cocoa Beach, Jim (Teri) Larson II of Milwaukee, WI, Robin Larson (Mike) McKee of Rancho Cucamonga, CA, Jeff (Edie) Larson of Maidens, VA, and David (Tonia) Larson of Bremerton, WA. After her husband’s final posting at Patrick Air Force Base, Dorothy and Jim retired to Cocoa Beach, FL in 1977. In 1994, the couple celebrated their 50-Year wedding anniversary.
Dorothy thoroughly enjoyed her “retired” life! She undertook “beach walking” with a cadre of close friends and was awarded a 30 -Year Pin from the Red Cross for her volunteer work. She also volunteered as a Rolling Reader in the local elementary schools, took up water color painting, and joined a local play reading club at the library. Soon, the newest loves of her life came along as grandchildren began to appear. Dorothy was the very proud grandmother of Amy (Robert) Greene Pfeiffer, Megan (Peter) Greene Westerberg, Christen (Kym) Greene, Jeremy (Marion) Larson, Sean (Laura) McKee, Brittany (Matt) Capps McKee, and Dexter (Michayla) Larson, and soon equally proud of nine great-grandchildren.
Dorothy is survived by her younger brother, George M. Smith, Jr. (Mary) of Sun City Center, FL and by her younger sister, Phyllis Ducklow (the late Dr. Robert) of Pickerel, WI, along with loving nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 1 PM at Zon Beachside, 1894 S Patrick Dr, Indian Harbour Beach, FL 32937, on October 22nd.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.6