Gingerich, Dorothy Ella Lais (1918-2003)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2003 Apr 14 p. 15

Birth date: 1918 Jan 22

text of obituary:

DOROTHY GINGERICH

Dorothy Ella (Lais) Gingerich, 85, of Hubbard, Ore., died March 9, 2003. She was born Jan. 22, 1918, to Daniel and Ellen (Egli) Lais, in Hubbard. She lived her entire life in the Hubbard area.

She married Vernon Joseph Gingerich on April 18, 1943. She graduated from Hesston (Kan.) College in 1951.

She reflected her Christian beliefs in the way she lived her life as a loving wife, mother, homemaker and young children's Sunday school teacher. Throughout her life, she exemplified unconditional love. The many family, friends and neighbors that frequently graced her home are a testament to her hospitality. Her favorite saying, "Whatsoever things are lovely, think on these things," reflected her nurturing and peaceful nature. While she loved all children, she was most fond of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband, Vernon; nine children, Raymond and his wife, Barbara, of Austin, Texas; John and his wife, Louise, Thomas and his wife, Jeanette, and Carolyn Gingerich, all of Hubbard; Douglas and his wife, Gloria, and Dorothy Brenneman and her husband, Tom, both of Canby; Charles and his wife, Sheryl, and Craig and his wife, Jana, both of Aurora; Judy Gingerich of Vernonia and honorary daughter Urszula Balenkowski of Hubbard; five sisters, Evelyn Birky and Marjorie Birky of Kalispell, Mont.; Vera Garber of Hubbard; and Frances Hoover and Ruth Zehr of Goshen, Ind.; 18 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a granddaughter; two brothers, Frank Lais and John Lais; and six sisters, Lilly Berkey, Mary Kenagy, Celestia Lais; Susan Stanerson; Lena Blair and Orpha Fisher.