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Dorothy T. Letsinger
Date Of Birth:March 17, 1922
Date Of Death:December 3, 2010
Service Date:December 8, 2010

Dorothy Thompson Letsinger passed away peacefully at the Meadowood Retirement Center in Bloomington. IN, on Friday, December 3, 2010. She was born in Bloomington on March 17, 1922. daughter of Professor Stith Thompson and Louise Thompson. and graduated from Bloomington High School in 1939 and Indiana University in 1943.

At Indiana University Dorothy was a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa honorary society in her junior year, and received the Susan B. Butler Award as the outstanding woman in the graduating class. In 1943 she married Robert Letsinger. who served on a war research program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. and moved to Cambridge_ Massachusetts, where she worked as a secretary in Administration at M.I.T. After the war. Robert joined the faculty in Chemistry at Northwestern University and they moved to Evanston, IL.. and later to Wilmette. IL. Dorothy obtained a Teaching Certificate from the State of Illinois and a Masters Degree in History from Northwestern University. Professionally she taught history for grades eight through twelve at the Roycemore Academy in Evanston and for many years served as a Home and Hospital Teacher for students physically unable to attend classes at Evanston High School. She was active in civic affairs in Evanston and Wilmette, including serving as election judge at local and national elections. juror of the Circuit Court of Cook County. IL, leader of the Girl Scouts, and supporter and fund raiser for the Shore School for handicapped children. She was a member of the United Methodist Church of Wilmette, IL.

For recreation she enjoyed camping and hiking with the family in the National Parks, playing party and duplicate bridge, participating in a writer-speaker group on the North Shore (Pyerian Society), and traveling in Europe and Asia. She accompanied her husband on a number of professional trips. including a ten month stay with the family in Heidelberg, Germany, in 1956-57,

a six month stay in Munich. Germany, in 1989, and a trip around the world in 1999, and she traveled to Russia. Israel, and Ireland with her sister. Marguerite Flays.

Dorothy and Robert moved to the Meadowood Retirement Community in Bloomington. IN, in 2002.

Dorothy was a- loving wife. mother, grandmother, and great grandmother and a helpful friend of many. She is survived by her husband. Robert L. Letsinger. her sister. Marguerite T. Hays of Palo Alto. CA, a son, Reed P. Letsinger and wife Glenna of Palo Alto. CA. a daughter,

Sue C. Letsinger and husband David Brown of Seattle. WA, a granddaughter, Kirsten L. Edwards and husband Bruce Edwards of Mill Valley_ CA, a grandson, Branden Letsinger Brown. and two great grandsons, Reed T. Edwards and Dillon S. Edwards. She was preceded in death by a daughter_ Rita Louise Letsinger, and a grandson. Stith Thompson Letsinger.

A memorial service will he held at Meadowood at 1:30 PM on Wednesday, December 8.

Allen Funeral Home 4155 South Old Highway 37 is handling the arrangements and online condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenfuneralhome.org


  • From: Ruth Lucchesi
    Location:Northfield, IL

    I was shocked and saddened to see the listing of Dorothy's passing in today's local Winnetka Talk newspaper. Bob and family...our thoughts and prayers are with you.


  • From: James and Judith Morrison
    Location:Port St. Lucie, FL

    Judy and I learned of Dorothy's death today. Bob,we remember her warm welcome at research group gatherings in your home. Her obvious intelligence and sunny disposition are vividly remembered today, 52 year later. Our condolences to you and your family. Jim and Judy Morrison


  • From: BRIAN KANE
    Location:US

    So, sorry for the Letsinger family loss


  • From:  

    sO SOORY.REMEMBER YOUR RHUBARB. cHARLES MCDOUGALL