Dorthea Lois Edgerly

She was the last born of a family of seven children given to a father and mother who had migrated from Indiana in 1900, during the land rush. Her father, James David Roach, was a Methodist Minister as well as a farmer.

Her forbearers had come early to America---some as early as 1630. Her father died when she was only nine years of age. This caused her mother, Mary Montgomery Roach to lease the land of the three farms she and her husband had acquired over the past years.

Downey, California became the home of Dorthea and her mother. There she was graduated from the Downey High School----then she went to Compton Junior College where she was destined to meet her future husband, Raymond. As it turned out, they had a very long and loving relationship of over---years.

During their early courtship, Raymond, who was now in the Army and was stationed with his unit temporarily bivouacked at Sawtell, in the Old Soldier's Home, now called Westwood. At times, mostly during the very early morning hours, his unit would evacuate, by the unit's ambulances, military accident victims and patients from their Clearing Station (Emergency Hospital) at Ft. MacArthur, San Pedro to Camp Hahn. Raymond would catch one of these evacuations, serving as driver or assistant and their route would be via Downey. He would leave what they termed in those days, "Little Love Notes" to his sweetheart, Dorthea.

Dorthea and Raymond were married April 4, 1942, a month before the 40th Division was ordered to Ft. Louis, Washington in preparation for overseas duty. Raymond escaped this shipment by receiving orders to attend Officers' Training School in Abilene, Texas.

After Raymond received a Commission, Dorthea joined him in Texas for a few months before he received orders sending him into conflict of World War II.

During Raymond's absence, Dorthea worked as a Project Analyst at the Vultee Aircraft Plant six days a week and on Sunday, she served as Superintendent of the Junior Department of the United Methodist Church.

In 1946, the couple took up life together in Redlands, California and while Raymond finished his education, Dorthea taught school, first, in Corona, then in Riverside. While working she took courses at the University of Redlands, receiving her Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1953.

They later, moved to Riverside where their one and only child, Cynthia, was born. They moved to East Whittier in 1958, and Dorthea received her Master’s Degree and an Administrative Credential. She taught school in the East Whittier School District for 24 years, retiring in 1982, after teaching 34 years.

Her family was her greatest joy. She was always happiest when spending time with Raymond, Cynthia, Peter, Jacqueline, and Alexandra.

Dorthea and Raymond made their final move together to Oceanside in 1983. It was here that Dorthea was to leave her greatest contribution. If you go into the Family History Library, Salt Lake and run the Author's name Index for Edgerly, you will find a list of her many publications.

During the years of retirement, she devoted her interest in history, and genealogy to finding material for their family histories. In this, she was assisted by Raymond. From coast to coast, they visited: libraries, museums, courthouses, churches, historical societies and cemeteries gathering data for their books.

When not traveling, she sat at her word processor and later, a computer, typing letters to innumerable sources for information. Then, there were the pages of her books to be typed, copies of the documents to be made and finally, her completed books were donated to interested and appropriate libraries.

She used to say, 'This is the greatest gift that one can give to one's existing family and to future generations." For these were indeed, the stories and histories of the times of persons from the past--the genes we bear that influence our lives today.

During her "retirement" she was accepted as a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, since several of her ancestors were Revolutionary War Patriots.

She served an unprecedented term of 6 consecutive years as her chapter's Regent.

Death came to her, opening his gate and leading her into the greatest of all libraries, where everyone's name is on file. Turing to the Great Head Librarian, I know she said, "I could spend eternity in here." And she will!