Dorothy Ann Cress

Dorothy Ann Cress, 83, of High Point, NC died January 17, 2012 at High Point Regional Hospital, following a period of declining health. Dorothy Ann Cress was born on August 26, 1928, the daughter of Abner and Mary Elizabeth Cress. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Emma Lee (Sally) Cress Flynn and her brothers, Abner Cress, Jr., Robert Cress, and James Gordon Cress.

Dorothy was a free spirit who had been an English teacher and had worked for both the Office of Strategic Metals and National Geographic in Washington, DC during WWII. She spent several years as a clerk in the CIA, having been posted in Frankfurt and Berlin, Germany after WWII. Returning to the States, she worked for The Hartford Insurance Company in San Francisco and then the American Red Cross in several U.S. cities. Dorothy devoted over 20 years to the American Red Cross as the Director of Service to Military Families and as Director of Disaster Services. She won the Tiffany Award for her disaster work nationally and internationally. She ended her career as Executive Director of the High Point-Thomasville Chapter of the American Red Cross, retiring in 1991.

Graduated from High Point College in 1948 with a BA in English, Dorothy loved poetry and English literature. She spoke several languages and was always trying to learn a new one. She loved crossword puzzles and the opera. Her favorite pastime was emailing her vast number of friends and sending them jokes and cartoons. Above all, she wanted to make people laugh.

Dorothy is survived by one sister, Elsie Cress Stevenson of Clear Lake City, Texas. She is also survived by her nephews, Daniel Gordon Stevenson of League City, Texas and Daryl Craig Stevenson (Melanie) of Pearland, Texas, a great-niece, Brandi Danielle Stevenson and great nephew, Michael Tabor Stevenson, and by her nieces Catherine Ruth Cress of High Point, NC, Carolyn Cress Locke (John) of Durham, NC and Cynthia Ann Cress of High Point, NC. She is also survived by Dirty Harry, the cat she adored.

The family wishes to express their extreme gratitude to Dr. Stephen S. Ruehle and his staff, Cathy Poole and Kim McEntee, for their loving care of Dorothy over the years.

There will be no public memorial service by her request. It was her wish that her memory be joyfully celebrated, not mourned. Memorials may be directed to the American Red Cross, Hospice of the Piedmont, or the charity of one’s choice. Final arrangements will be provided by Sechrest Funeral Services of High Point.