Dorothy Lorraine Foss

DOB: August 28, 1922 Superior , WI DOD: September 4, 2021 Tucson, AZ

A Tucson resident since 1965: 55 years

Dorothy spent her early years in northern Minnesota living on the Red Lake Indian Reservation as her parents were both employed there during the Depression. Her father was a blacksmith and her mother supervised the laundry department. She has no siblings. Seeking better weather and employment opportunities the family relocated to Seattle, WA. Dorothy graduated from West Seattle High School. Prior to WWII she was an elevator operator in the Smith Towers in downtown Seattle.

Dorothy was 21 years old when she answered the call to serve her country during WWII . She joined the Coast Guard “Spars” in 1943 and did her basic training in West Palm Beach, FL and was then stationed in St. Louis, MO for 2 ½ years as a Storekeeper, Second Class.

After the war she returned to Seattle and attended the University of Washington on the GI bill. It was there she met Roland Earle Foss, who also served in the Navy during WWII, an ensign on a PT boat. They married December 3, 1949 and resided in Tacoma, WA.

Roland was employed by the Union Oil Co. and in 1960 was transferred to Juneau, Alaska. The family also lived in the towns of Ketchikan and Fairbanks. Roland and Dorothy’s youngest son was born in Alaska. In 1965 Roland was transferred to Tucson, AZ due to his rheumatoid arthritis. They settled in the 22nd & Kolb area.

Roland passed away September 29, 1979.

After moving to Tucson, Dorothy worked for Korby’s Dept. Store on East Speedway, later at the Defender Drug Store in Wilmot Plaza at the post office substation, and lastly, as a bookkeeper at Devon Gables Senior Living on East Grant Road.

Dorothy volunteered at St Joseph’s Hospital from 1997 – 2011. She wanted to stay active and she enjoyed the camaraderie of the patients and hospital staff. She served on the Volunteer Auxiliary Board as Treasurer for 4 years and as Parliamentarian for 2 years. Dorothy donated over 4,800 hours of service.

Dorothy and Roland have three children: Mary Kay (Nordhill) Foss who graduated from Palo Verde High School and Northern Arizona University married Dan Nordhill, an engineer for Procter & Gamble. They have 2 daughters: Erin and Alison. Dan and Mary Kay now reside at Saddlebrooke in Tucson.

Paul Andrew is the 2nd child, a graduate of Palo Verde High School and the University of Arizona, and is a risk manager for Peter Kiewit Construction located in Omaha, NE. He married Debbie Dehner and they have four children: Andrew, Bryan, Jonathan, & Sarah.

Dorothy’s youngest son is Roland Earle Foss Jr., a graduate of Palo Verde High School and the University of Arizona. He and his wife Kathy Hiettt are both employed by the National Park Service residing in Northern Virginia.

At the request of Dorothy there will not be a Memorial service. Dorothy will be laid to rest at East Lawn Palms Cemetery in the Coast Guard section of the Veterans’ Memorial wall. The family will be together for a Mass at Santa Catalina Catholic Church. Donations in the memory of Dorothy L. Foss can be made to the Sr. Jose’s Women’s Shelter in Tucson - srjosewomensshelter.org/donate.