Dolly was a special friend and I miss her.  I had the privilege of  bringing Dolly Holy Communion for a time while she lived in Knoxville, TN.  She was always full of energy, reading books and loved to talk about her family.  She was very precious.

When my mom Annie Lou had not heard from Dolly she knew she was gone.  My mom said she was a good woman and she loved her. I had the pleasure of spending time with her during a Florida visit when she insisted we not stay at a hotel but with them. What GREAT visit we had. My mom was a cousin Harvey.

When my mom Annie Lou had not heard from Dolly she knew she was gone.  My mom said she was a good woman and she loved her. I had the pleasure of spending time with her during a Florida visit when she insisted we not stay at a hotel but with them. What GREAT visit we had. My mom was a cousin to her husband.

A tribute to our mother.
She was a hard worker, an early riser, a devout Catholic.  Her home was open to all.  She had a fierce desire to remain independent.
Her happiest years were her younger years and midlife.  She met our dad at St. Cloud High School, where he was a football player and she competed in diving competitions and won the Florida State Diving Championship two years in a row.   They were married for sixty years.  She followed him from port to port when he was in the Navy.  She helped in the war effort by working in shipyards as a riveter and welder in San Diego, San Francisco, Corpus Christi, Milwaukee and Green Bay.  She earned her pilot's license and loved flying until she clipped a wire and flipped a small plane while landing at Brown County airport.  After settling down with houses in Titusville and Orlando, she went to work for Martin Marietta and then Sun Bank.
She loved traveling with Daddy: from the Bahamas in the smallest boat (at the time) to have ever crossed from Palm Beach to Grand Bahama Island; to the Dry Tortugas when David was a little boy, teaching him to feed the huge grouper under the dock, and swimming in the Keys with dolphin and sea turtles.  She enjoyed their many trips (often with us) down the Kissimmee River to the Avon Park Bombing Range and to Ten Thousand Islands, bringing plenty of novels for the long days of fishing.  She even made a few of Daddy's many trips to the Everglades.  She taught each of us and her grandchildren a love of the outdoors, wildlife, fishing, and camping.
They took many trips in their motorhome: to California to visit cousin, Eugene, a professor in Southern California, and from there on up the west coast highway and the Alcan Highway to Fairbanks, Alaska to visit a friend; then did it all over again a couple of years later, even though parts of the Alcan Highway crossed very high mountain passes, which were partially washed out, and she had become terrified of heights.  After that there were the trips up the East Coast to many Civil War battlefields/monuments; and to New Orleans and other cities for Daddy's Navy reunions.
She took many trips with daughter, Jean, between Pennsylvania and Daytona Beach, and stops in between, with each saying they would never travel with the other again.  Of course, that would be short-lived.  And some of the incidents were actually quite humorous as seen from a distance.
She was proud of Bobby's accomplishments, his early years of traveling, then his Snap-On business, his gun shop and work with the Sheriff's Office, but she was especially proud of his collection of "toys:"  airboat, motorcycles, guns and collections of tools and equipment.
She was an original member of St. John Vianney and helped to raise the funds to found the church while she was still a member at St. James, and then saw it develop and expand.  She remained a member there until she became unable to care for herself and her home, and moved to Tennessee, where Bobby and Kathy nursed her back to health.  She served the church in many ways over the years, teaching a Catechism class and sponsoring people into the church, including an entire Vietnamese family.  She encouraged Bobby to become an altar boy and later saw her grandsons also become altar boys.
She cared for her grandsons, Stephen and Michael, in their formative years, when Jerry couldn't, and was very proud of Stephen's accomplishments, especially his earning a Ph.D.  It made her happy that Michael was able to care for Jerry when he became ill.
She volunteered for the American Red Cross for many years, spending hours of each week  on the phone calling to check on shut-ins.  She became friends with many of them and looked forward to the calls as much as they looked forward to talking to her.
Her later years were stressful for her and her family.  Days were filled with anxiety and pain.  She is with God now, and He is caring for her, His faithful servant.
We love you Mom ... your daughter, Judy.

She was a good woman. I will miss her.she made sure u had a full belly at her place.

"My other Mother, Dolly"  I will miss you more than anyone will ever know.  You have been such a good friend to me most of my adult life and I can't ever thank you enough for all the guidance, mentoring and caring that you gave to me.  I cry and my heart is a hurting because of my loss but I know that you are at peace with our maker and not suffering anymore.  I love you, Dolly.  Your other Judy.

Grandma we will miss you. You hold a special place in our hearts. You will never be forgotten. You were the one that married Hildred and I back in 1991 on Grandpa's air-boat. How many other people can claim that uniqueness. You always made a big impression on everybody, and you were loved by all. You were always a loving and caring person offering help to those in need. God will have a special place just for you by his side

With love,
Dave, Hildie, Drake, Bryce, Brodi, Logan & Cassie

OBITUARY

Dolores Padgett

September 16, 1922 – February 21, 2014

Woodlawn Funeral Home & Memorial Park

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