Dorice Jane Perkins

Dorice “Dodie” Perkins passed away on May 25, 2026, at the age of 97. She is survived by her daughter DeDe (Chip) Dennig; her grandchildren Alex (Kayt Mathers) Dennig, Nick Dennig, and Molly Dennig; Kristen (Brandon) Goecker and Tayler (Joe) Wilkin; and her great-grandchildren Gwen, Miles, Audrey, Charlie, and Lewis; Lisa Davis Perkins and Jana (Ed) Heft. She was preceded in death by her parents Naomi and John Robinson, Sr.; her brothers John, Jr. and James; her husband Don Perkins, son David Perkins, daughter Debbie Perkins, and son Daniel Perkins. She also leaves behind dear friends Tom Lefferson, the Schueller family, and many other beloved friends.

Born in Middletown, Ohio on November 3, 1928, Dodie graduated from Middletown High School, where she formed lifelong friendships—the first cast of characters in what would become her endless encyclopedia of stories. She went on to study at the Middletown Hospital School of Nursing, serving as president of the class of 1949, a role she would hold in “every club she ever joined.” She began her career as an office nurse for Dr. William Storer, but soon found her calling as a school nurse in the Middletown and Monroe school districts.

Dorice married her high school sweetheart, Donald “Don” Perkins, in 1950, and together they adopted four children, DeDe, David, Debbie and Dan. During those years, while caring for her family and working as a nurse, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Thomas More University. (She also effortlessly attained a Phd in loving her family!)

Ever the socialite, Dodie was well known for her gift for bringing people together and as a gracious host who took delight in every detail. She was also a deeply devoted and involved member of First Christian Church in Middletown, where she was honored as an Elder Emeritus in 2007. She was a proud member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, and volunteered with the American Red Cross and the Girl Scouts of America.

Dodie was fiercely proud of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and took an enthusiastic role in their lives, spreading a sense of adventure, love, and curiosity. She was the force behind many of the moments they will always remember—spring breaks at state parks, days at the lake, walks through the farm fields, and summer road trips. She loved her evening programs, a good game of Skip-Bo around the table, and never met a cat she wasn’t immediately friends with. Dodie was the heart of every party, bringing warmth, energy, and the biggest batch of everyone’s favorite dessert, her signature strawberry Bavarian jello. Ever the extrovert, she found joy in sharing experiences with friends and family and had an uncanny ability to remember each one in surprising (and mostly accurate) detail.

While Dodie will be deeply missed, her long life will be celebrated by living as she did—with joy, love, and kindness—and pursuing lives well lived.

For those who wish to gather in her memory, a memorial will be held on Monday, June 8th, at First Christian Church, 4520 Rosedale Road, Middletown, OH 45042, with visitation beginning at 11:00 a.m. and a celebration of life service at 12:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Hospice of Dayton, First Christian Church, or a nonprofit organization of your choosing.