Born April 11, 1940, in Helechawa, Kentucky, to the late Richard and Ruth (Walters) Nickell, she lived in Dayton for the first part of her life for about 17 years. She met Robert “Bob” Eugene Houseman, the love of her life, at the age of 14 and they married in 1955. After Bob’s retirement in 1992, they became snowbirds, spending the winters in Dade City, Florida. They shared 68 years together until Bob passed in 2024.
Dorothy was a member of Diamond Hill Cathedral since 1974 where she was a “Rockett”. She was an area homemaker her entire life and, along with other homemakers in her neighborhood, was a member of the Maumee Mother’s Club. She enjoyed crafting and quilting with her neighbors. Dorothy could never pass up a shopping trip to Goodwill or Dollar Tree where she scoured the stores for bargains—and found many of them. By far, her most favorite times were spent with her family, and she was the most loving, wife, mother and grandmother.
Dorothy is survived by two children, Debra (Robert) Wicker and Sandra Enlow; six grandchildren, Ariel Mathison, Cassandra (Steven) Keller, Brandy (Josh) Grassick, Nicole (Brian) Crank, Brooke and Kirsten Houseman; many great-grandchildren; a sister, Fern Frontz; a son-in-law, Jeffrey Mathison; two nieces, Michelle (Greg) Rodenberger and Kelly (Bill) Wagner; and many friends she dearly loved.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Robert “Bobby” L. Houseman; daughter, Jackie Mathison; granddaughter, Jessica Mathison; brother, Lloyd (Judy) Nickell; brother-in-law, Doug Frontz; and two nephews, Jimmy Nickell and Jeffrey Frontz.
The family will receive friends from 12:00-1:00 pm on Friday, September 26, 2025, at Wappner Funeral Directors-Ontario, 100 S. Lexington-Springmill Road. The funeral service will immediately follow at 1:00 pm. Dorothy will be laid to rest in Oak Grove Memorial Park beside her husband.
