She was born on December 8, 1929 and raised on a dairy farm in southern Davidson County. She was the daughter of the late Amanda Ruth Rawls and Homer Hill Parks. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Rebecca (Betty) Sue Quirk; her brother, William Porter Parks; and husbands, Frank Richard Giardina and Edward Michael Blankner.
Dorothy is survived by her sons, John Richard Giardina (Ninette) and Frank Richard Giardina, Jr., both of Franklin, TN, and Richard Vincent Giardina (Michele) of Springfield, VA; and granddaughters, Anna Maria Giardina and Rebecca Mae Giardina of Springfield, VA. She also leaves behind many loving nieces, nephews, step-grandchildren, step-great grandchildren, and her faithful companion, Maggie Mae.
A native of Nashville, Dorothy graduated from Antioch High School and attended Peabody College. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother, as well as an animal lover, raising cocker spaniels most of her life. She was a member of Belle Meade United Methodist Church. An avid golfer, she was a founding member of Hillwood Country Club Ladies’ 18-Hole Golf Association, a member of Laurel Ridge (NC) Country Club, and the North Carolina Senior Women’s Golf Association, winning several women’s championships and even sinking a hole-in-one. Upon her retirement from Social Work Services at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Nashville, Dorothy made Waynesville, NC and later, Franklin, TN her homes.
A Memorial Service and Celebration of Her Life will be held at 11:30 on Wednesday, April 25 at Woodlawn Roesch Patton Funeral Home & Memorial Park in Nashville, with Interment to follow.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until 11:30 at Woodlawn.
Memorial donations may be made to Belle Meade United Methodist Church or a charity of one’s choice.
