Dorothy R McCarty

Dorothy R. McCarty, fondly known as “Dottie,” slipped away peacefully on the morning of Thursday, February 1, 2018 at the age of 94. She was born on September 14, 1923, in Mattoon, IL and was raised by her grandmother, who died when she was six. Dottie grew up in the home of an aunt and uncle in Sycamore Heights area and graduated from Concannon High School. Dottie was determined to succeed as a woman in a world run very much by men. Rejected from employment at Columbian Enameling for “being too small,” she persisted month after month. As more and more men were called to war, she was finally hired in 1944 and quickly rose to a position of importance. Dottie retired more than 42 years later in 1985. In 1947, Dottie became the first woman enrolled in the Indiana Technical Institute. She applied under the name, D. R. McCarty, surprising the representative who came to interview her, never expecting a young woman. According to a trade paper published at the time, he was impressed by the fact that she and her girlfriend had begun with a garage and built it into a house, including plumbing and wiring it. Even though she worked more than 42 years at Columbian Enameling, Dottie also found time to become the first female television repair person at the historic Midwest TV. She volunteered to work for free to get experience and was hired on within the first week. In the early 1950’s, Dottie was an officer in the Wabash Valley Motorcycle Club and she often competed. She owned an Indian and later a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Dottie was active in Community Theater for a number of years as a volunteer stage hand, and she was also an active C.B. operator and REACT volunteer. After her retirement, she owned and operated a limo service in Terre Haute. Throughout her life, she traveled the United States extensively. She became a regular at the Croy Creek Flea Market for more than 20 years. Per Dottie’s wishes, cremation was chosen and she will be laid to rest in Roselawn Memorial Park. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mattoxwood.com