Dorothy Joan Duckworth

She was born on May 17, 1930, in Galion, Ohio, the only child of the late Esther Virginia (Reese) and Russell Wayne Foose. She graduated from Mansfield Senior High School and received her bachelor’s degree in music education from North Central College in Napierville, Illinois. Ten days after her 22nd birthday, she married Philip Duckworth on May 27, 1952. She was a homemaker her entire life but, no matter where she lived, she was involved in the local community theater. She was an accomplished thespian, and Dorothy won a Best Actress award in Lima, Ohio. Music was integral to her life, and she was a choir director while in Newark, East Liverpool, Ohio, and Grace Episcopal Church. She sang in various symphonic choruses throughout her lifetime.

Dorothy and her husband had a wonderful life together. They wintered in Indiatlantic, Florida, and spent many summers at their Lake Erie home. She and Phil were the best of fishing buddies and Dorothy won four Ohio Fish Awards in one year. She was a woman of great faith and diligently read her Bible every evening-currently focusing on the Old Testament. Volunteering was second nature to Dorothy, and she gave of her talents in many ways. She was involved in Meals on Wheels while in East Liverpool, worked with the Grace Episcopal Church pantry, and was an usher at the Renaissance Theater.

Dorothy is survived by her husband of 74 years, Philip Duckworth; four children, Rhea Bensie, Kevin (Jan) Duckworth, Stephen Duckworth, and Phil (Sue) Duckworth Jr.; ten grandchildren, Ted Powell, Clint (Sonya) Powell, Molly Powell, Benjamin Duckworth, Luke (Sarah) Duckworth, Annie (Ryan) Mullenix, Sara (Tony) Burt, Katie (Adam) Derico, Samuel (Linda) Duckworth, and Carly (Cory) Rossmeissl; and eighteen great-grandchildren, Paige, Ethan (Lexi), and Abbie Powell, Chase Mayle, Luna and Lyra Duckworth, Cameron, Avalilly, Kessler and Delanie Mullenix, Deanna, Joseph and Vincent Burt, Mason Derico, Jace, Lucy and Dillon Duckworth, and Charles Rossmeissl.

In addition to her parents, Dorothy was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Fred “Bud” Bensie; and daughter-in-law, Dona Duckworth.

A memorial service conducted by Father Christopher Hofer will be held on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 11:00 am at Grace Episcopal Church, 41 Bowman St. Rd, Mansfield, OH 44903. Wappner Funeral Directors and Crematory-Ontario is honored to serve the family.