Dorothy Arline Wichern

TEXARKANA, Texas - Dorothy Arline Wichern, joined her Lord and Savior on August 6, 2021, at Hospice of Texarkana at the age of 86. Dorothy was born at Menfro, MO on August 19, 1934, to Arlous and Ruby (Farrar) Abernathy. Dorothy grew as a child of God at Calvary Baptist in Perryville, Missouri.

Dorothy joined Orville (Willie) Wichern in Holy Matrimony on November 26, 1955. Dorothy was a member of Immanuel Lutheran for many years, singing in the choir.

Dorothy and Willie were married for 63 years.

At a young age, Dorothy began playing piano by ear. She was an avid seamstress and gardener. She and her husband also enjoyed camping and boating. Dorothy worked as a receptionist for a family dentist. Later, Dorothy enjoyed creating crocheted throws and embellished textiles and studying the Word of God.

Survivors include daughters Sharon (Mondo) Rios of New Boston, Texas; Karen (Brad) Dreyer of Texarkana, Arkansas; Karla (Matt) Kiefner of Jackson, Missouri; grandchildren, Zachary Rios, Emma Rios, Jeremy (Erin) Dreyer, Hannah (Rick) Morgan, Timothy (Dianah) Dreyer, Aaron (Zoë) Dreyer, Paige (Trevor) Cook, Jacquelyn Kiefner, great-grandchildren, Arielle Dreyer, Huxley Dreyer, and Amelia Dreyer, brothers, Ronald (Vallerie) Abernathy, Ivan (Cheryl) Abernathy, Gary (Sharon) Abernathy, Lynn (Sheila) Abernathy, sisters Janet (Elbert) Hadler, Carol (Melvin) Kluender, Kathaleen (Steve) Gundling, sisters-in-law Barbara (Wilfred) Abernathy, Norma (Lester) Abernathy, and brother-in-law Gary (Viola) Cooper.

Preceding her in death are her husband, parents, brothers Wilfred Abernathy, Lester Abernathy, sisters Viola Cooper and Alice Roth.

Dorothy will be laid to rest with her husband at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.

Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Texarkana, Texas, 2407 Galleria Oaks Drive, Texarkana, TX 75503.

Arrangements are under the direction of East Funeral Home-Downtown

Online tributes can be posted at www.eastfuneralhomes.com.