Dortha May Underhill
Dortha May Underhill, 92, a resident of Warden since 1955, went to be with our Lord July 10, 2012. Dortha was born January 31, 1920, in Roseburg, Oregon, to Fred and Myrtle Elliott. She is survived by her loving husband, Ken (John Kenneth Underhill, Jr.), and children, Donald (Vicki) Underhill of Warden, Janice (Bob) Highsmith of Seminole, Florida, and Marilee (Edward) Hicks of Spokane Valley, Washington; 5 grandchildren, Denisen Ellis, John Hicks, Kiani (Tyson) Wallerstein, Nathan Hicks, and Sami Savage; and 8 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her brother, Rev. Frank Eugene Elliott. She married the love of her life, Ken, December 27, 1944 in Corvallis, Oregon, and they had three children. She graduated from high school in Canyonville, Oregon, and Oregon State College with a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics in 1941. She taught high school in several schools in Oregon. She and Ken and young children moved to Warden to develop a farm in the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project in 1955. Dortha taught typing and other business education courses at Warden High School from 1956 through 1973.
Dortha and Ken enjoyed many years of travelling together, including 13 winters in Arizona, trips to Alaska, Hawaii, Okinawa, Brazil, Australia, Fiji and New Zealand. They shared many wonderful trips as members of the Wannigan Trailer Club.
Dortha was a devoted member of Warden Community Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312, or online at www.diabetes.org or to Warden Community Church, 201 W. 3rd St., Warden, WA 98857.
A memorial service celebrating Dortha's life will be held Saturday, July 14, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. followed by a light lunch at the Warden Community Church, 201 W. 3rd St. Interment will be at the Warden Sunset Memorial Cemetery. Please sign the online guestbook or leave a note for the family at www.kayserschapel.com. Arrangements are in care of Kayser's Chapel & Crematory, Moses Lake.