Dorothy Mae Aldrich

Dorothy Mae Wilkie Aldrich crossed over on January 28, 2015. Dot was born on May 19, 1934, at Thornton, Texas, to Adnie Earl and Maurice Long Wilkie. She attended schools in Palestine, Texas, graduating from PHS in May, 1952. In her youth she was a member of the First Baptist Church. She played piano and French horn and was drum major of the PHS Wildcat Band. Dot received a music scholarship at Sam Houston State Teachers College in Huntsville, Texas, where she played French horn and was head twirler for the Bearkat Band and a member of Tau Beta Sigma national band sorority and Philos, as they were becoming the Zeta Tau Alpha National Sorority chapter, as well as the national honorary education fraternity, Kappa Delta Pi. In January, 1956, Dot received her Bachelor of Science Degree in elementary education. All that had been quite an experience along with working in the band library, in the college book store, typing for the alumni association, tutoring elementary students, being a live-in governess for a family’s children and keeping a 3.5 grade average. At the end of the week of her graduation in January, 1956, Dot went to Ft. Smith, Arkansas to marry her college sweetheart, Penn C. Aldrich , Jr. of Katy, Texas. He had graduated from SHSU in May, 1955 and was a sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserves, so he volunteered for service and was sent for training in artillery at Camp Chaffee, Ark. After the wedding Dot came back to begin teaching first grade at Spring Branch ISD. Six months later P.C. was transferred to Ft. Sill, OK. Dot resigned and joined him in Lawton, OK where their son, David, was born in 1957. They returned to Texas in 1957 and lived in Spring Branch, Houston, where P.C. was employed by Cameron Iron Works. Dot was a Life Member of the PTA and an active member of the Methodist Church, the Civic Club and garden club. She enjoyed gardening, sewing, substitute teaching and chaperoning the “kids”. She also worked at a bank and then at an oil service company. Son, David, graduated from Texas A&M in 1979 and they were forever Aggies. P.C. & Dot purchased 12 acres of land north of Huntsville on which they built a small log house which they enjoyed furnishing with antiques and mementoes as they spent many happy weekends and holidays at “Pendadot”. In 1981 they built a new home in Jersey Village, West of Houston. It was during these years when they learned to play bridge and enjoyed square dancing. During these years they were also responsible for the care of their elderly parents until they were sadly lost. Dot was offered a teaching position in the Cypress Fairbanks ISD in ‘85 and again taught first graders for ten years. After they retired in 1996, they built a new home at Elkins Lake in Huntsville, Texas. By then they had grandchildren, Emily and Grayson. They enjoyed Huntsville’s history and beauty, some old friends and many new friends and especially the First United Methodist Church and the Upper Room Sunday School Class. They enjoyed activities at Elkins Lake, P.C. played golf, they liked to play bridge and to go to the dance club. Dot learned to play the dulcimer and was in the Methodist bell choir and they began to do their genealogies. In January, 2002, P.C. was diagnosed with leukemia and was treated with transfusions and chemo for almost a year. He lost his brave fight on December 9, 2003. Since his passing Dot had become Chairman of the Volunteers at the Genealogy Room at the Huntsville Public Library and a Volunteer for the Wynne Home. She also had completed genealogy documentation for membership in the United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Daughters of the American Revolution, and had almost completed applications for the Daughters of the Colonists and the Colonial Dames, as well as the Sons of the Republic of Texas in memory of Penn C. Aldrich, Jr. and on behalf of David and Grayson Aldrich. Dot was preceded in death by her infant twin brother, Arthur, her parents, older brother, James Wilkie, in-laws Penn C. and Lois Aldrich, and her beloved P.C. Aldrich, Jr. She is survived by her son, David C. Aldrich, grandchildren, Emily and Grayson, Comfort, Texas, P.C.’s brother, Billy Aldrich and Rhonda, Katy, Texas, as well as several nieces and nephews, cousins, many special friends and neighbors. Visitation will be at the Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home on Sunday February 1st from 2:00 till 4:00 P.M. Services will be held on Monday February 2, 2015 at 10:00 A.M. at First Methodist Church, Huntsville, Texas, followed by a family burial service at Oakwood/Adickes Addition Cemetery, Huntsville. In memory of Dot, donations may be made to the Jerry Bruce Scholarship Fund (First United Methodist Church), the American Heart Association, or to a charity of your choice. Memorial condolences may be made to the family at www.shmfh.com.

Dorothy Mae Aldrich

May 19, 1934 - January 28, 2015