Dora Louise Rawlings

She graduated from Bosse High School in 1936 and attended both Lindenwood and Mac Murray Colleges. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Purdue University where she was a founder of their Delta Gamma Chapter. She earned a Master’s Degree from Indiana University and did post Master’s work at Purdue, Indiana State and the University of Southern Indiana. She taught at Bosse High School from 1944 until 1979 and also taught at the University of Evansville for thirty-six years as both adjunct and full time instructor. She was the first Director of the preschool that developed into Evansville Day School. During the summers, she worked for the Evansville Recreation Department as supervisor of playground programs.

Dora was very active in many local organizations and held memberships in Delta Gamma Collegiate Alumnae Chapter, Altrusa Women’s Rotary Club, Sigma Alpha Sorority, Kappa Kappa Iota, Tau Sig-Honorary Dance Fraternity, Kappa Pi-Honorary Art Fraternity, Reitz Home Auxiliary, Lady Elks and Eagles Auxiliary. She was a member of Bethel United Church of Christ, where she taught Sunday school. She recently joined DAR under her relative Robert Browning.

She taught private Bridge classes for 19 years and Dancersize at the University of Evansville, having trained 18 instructors who taught in the Dancersize program. While teaching art at Bosse, she did oil paintings, many of which are hanging in homes in Evansville. One of her best known art students was Roy Frowick (aka Halston) whom she visited in New York after his success.

Dora was preceded in death by her first husband, Lawrence A. Hess, Jr., in 1974; by her second husband, Honorable Judge John Rawlings, in 1992; and daughter, Laurel Hess, in November 2011.

She is survived by her children, Steven Hess, Sharyl Hess Dawes and Jerilyn Hess Bellinger; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

No services will be held.

As a survivor of thyroid cancer and colon cancer, Ms. Rawlings would like memorial contributions to be made to the Hope Resource Cancer Center where she spent many supportive hours and days with their warm volunteers. Condolences may be made online at www.AlexanderEastChapel.com.