Dorotha Fay Theberge

Doeotha was born Mar 16, 1922 in Buttercreek, Scotland AR. She battled & defeated many illnesses the past year; Jan 11, 2011 she became suddenly ill & died in Modesto, CA surrounded by family. She grew up on a farm on Culpepper Mtn with her parents & 3 sisters. With no electricity or running water they purchased a battery operated Philco radio in 1932, as the only radio in the community neighbors came often to listen to music & news. Dorotha learned many life lessons growing up & lived her life with strength, determination & dignity. She attended Central College in Conway ’42-’43 enjoying dorm & college life & later repaid her parents the costs of her education. She taught at Scotland School until she moved to CA in 1945 where she cont’d to teach. 1947 Dorotha enrolled at UC Berkeley where she met & fell in love with Henry Theberge, they married 5 mos later. Dorotha cont’d the teaching she loved in Central CA. As she raised her family of 3 children she cont’d her college education, earning her Lifetime Teaching Credential. She retired in 1984 after teaching in Evergreen School Dist in San Jose for 20 yrs. Unable to sit idle, she volunteered at Santa Teresa Hospital & Cambrian Park Methodist Church for 16 yrs until she & Henry moved to Modesto in 2001. Following Henry’s passing Dorotha moved to Bethel Retirement Community where she made many dear friends with neighbors & staff. She loved teaching “her kids”, and loved being a wife and mother. She often said she was never happier than when she was taking care of her babies. Dorotha's strength & grace is a legacy that her children aspire to emulate; family & her faith in God were most important to her. She loved her family unconditionally, & made untold sacrifices for them. Mom preceded in death sisters LaVerne Shipp, Marie Bowling & Geraldine Kidd, son John daughters Theresa and Tina.