Doris Ruth Perham

Doris “Dotty” Westlund Perham December 20, 1931—November 15, 2019 Doris “Dotty” Westlund Perham, 87, Springfield, Virginia, passed away Nov. 15, 2019, surrounded by her loving family. With a vibrant personality, contagious optimism and passionate love for life, she will be remembered for her kindness, determination and commitment to family. She lived life to the fullest, and touched people with her genuine care for others. She is survived by the love of her life, husband Alfred Columbus Perham of Springfield, Virginia; son Carl Perham, his wife Charlotte and her granddaughter Grace of Fairfax, Virginia; daughter Patricia Eley and husband Timothy Eley of Burke, Virginia; sister Joan Michael and husband Pastor Gerhard Michael of Atlanta, Georgia; and many beloved nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by son John W. Perham and sister Helen Sherrick of Marlborough, New Hampshire. Dotty was born December 20, 1931, in Mineola, New York, to John and Ruth Westlund, whom Dotty was proud to say were of Swedish descent. She attended Northeastern University on a scholarship before transferring to Keene Teachers’ College to complete a bachelor’s degree in education. After moving to the Washington, D.C., area, she received a master’s degree in education from George Washington University. Her teaching career began in Foxborough, Massachusetts, and continued in Prince George’s County, Maryland, after she and Alfred moved to the metro D.C. area in the late 1950s. Among her achievements in the education profession were “Teacher of the Year” awards in both Foxborough, Massachusetts, and Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Dotty’s fighting spirit helped her overcome many challenges she encountered throughout her long and happy life. A diagnosis of a rare bone disease when she was nine years old left her with limited use of her left leg, resulting in a several-month hospital stay and use of a wheelchair until her leg became stronger. Then, at age 51, she experienced her first heart attack, the first of three heart attacks and three heart surgeries that she experienced and overcame through excellent medical care and her close observance of following all doctor’s orders, along with help from her husband Al. Recently, she dealt with macular degeneration that, despite the challenges, did not slow her down. She loved to spend time with family, frequently saying, “You never waste time when spending it with family.” She also was a lover of travel, the theater, sewing and reading a good book. Visitation will be 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22, at National Funeral Home, 7482 Lee Highway, Falls Church, Virginia. A service is planned for 1 p.m., with burial to follow at National Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Dotty’s name to the American Heart Association.