Dennis Lee Dorman (also known as Bulldog to his high school friends), passed away in Houston, Texas on Thursday, April 5, 2018, after a four month illness. His loving wife of 58 years, Leah, was at his side.
Dennis was born in Port Arthur, Texas on April 1, 1940, to Dorothy Landry Dorman and Everett Pleasant Dorman. Dennis graduated from Lamar University with a Bachelors of Business Administration. He married his high school sweetheart Leah Catalina on December 19, 1959. Dennis worked in the banking industry for several years, then went to work for Cameron Credit Union, where he retired as President and CEO after 28 years (now Primeway Federal Credit Union). He was responsible for the exceptional growth of the credit union and helped groom the next generation of credit union leaders.
Dennis was a fisherman, hunter and an avid civil war buff. He served as Treasurer for the Houston Chapter of Credit Unions and various other committees. He was also on the Board of Directors of Town North Bank in Dallas.
Being the baseball coach for his two sons, from grade school all the way through high school, was Dennis' most rewarding accomplishment because he was with his boys. Every other year Rick and Ron were on the same team and he swelled with pride. He had a pitcher and a catcher - a two-man baseball team. We had some serious bleacher butt.
Dennis was blessed to have two kidney transplants, one in 2001 and one in 2009. We will forever be grateful to the donors who saved his life.
In the last few years, Dennis was faced with declining health. His granddaughters gave him a little stuffed dog when he had his second transplant. For years the dog went unnamed and just in the past couple of years, I told him that he should name the dog. He asked what I thought he should name him. I told him I thought he should name him after the prophet Job because of all the challenges that he endured and yet remained faithful to his God. He wasn’t able to go to church the past few years but I know God understands. He read his Bible every day.
As his wife, it was my honor to stay by his side and take care of him - through sickness and in health - for better or worse. Those were our vows for 58 years.
May you rest in peace.
Dennis will be remembered as a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather who was preceded in death by his parents, Everett Pleasant and Dorothy Landry Dorman, as well as a sister who died at birth, Karen Kay. Those left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Leah Catalina Dorman of Houston; two sons, Richard Dorman and his wife Myra of Houston, and Ronald Dorman and his wife Susan of Spring, Texas; his four grandchildren who adored their grandfather: Travis of New York; Cameron of Houston; Keeley and Cassidy of Spring, Texas, other loving family members and many dear friends.
A celebration of Dennis’ life will be held on Friday, April 20, at 2:00 p.m., in the chapel of Waltrip Funeral Directors, 1415 Campbell Road, Houston, Texas 77055.
