Official Obituary of
Dorothy J. Donovan
February 23, 1920 ~ December 15, 2016 (age 96) 96 Years Old
Dorothy Donovan Obituary
Dorothy J. Donovan, 96, of Columbus, GA died Thursday, December 15, 2016 at Columbus Hospice House.
Memorial services will be held 2:00 PM Wednesday, December 21, 2016 at Covenant Woods (5424 Woodruff Farm Rd.) according to McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, GA 31907.
Born February 23, 1920 in Buffalo, NY to Henry S. and Josephine L. Lewis. Ever the nurse, teacher, volunteer and ultimate caring person, Dorothy always put others first. She graduated from Millard Filmore Hospital School of Nursing and Stephens College. A RN, she ended her career as a nursing instructor at Des Moines Area Community College, but she was forever teaching at every opportunity. She was an advocate for women's rights before it become fashionable and she encouraged the church to allow women in key roles. She was a volunteer at hospice since 1984, in Des Moines and Columbus. She was a member of the Religious Community Volunteer Network in Des Moines. Her volunteer work never stopped and new stories of her work surface everyday. She valued diversity and was constantly on the emerging side of social issues, challenging the status quo and speaking out against injustice.
Aside from her parents, she is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Rev. John E. Donovan, siblings Donald Lewis, John Lewis, Mary Smith and son-in-law Richard Wilcox.
Survivors include: her brother Richard Lewis (Carol) of Stuart, FL; son John B. Donovan of Dubuque, IA; daughters Mary Jo Pugh of Columbus, GA, Bette Jean Wilcox of Racine, WI and Daryl Ann Wiltshire (Bob) of Livingston, MT. Her nine grandchildren: Ryan Wilcox (Clemen) of Des Moines, IA; Kristi Wilcox of Racine, WI; Kyla Voye of Racine, WI; Colin Wilcox (Kelly) of Kenosha, WI; Todd King (Julie) of Columbus, GA; Aaron Pugh (Crystal) of Virginia Beach, VA; Adam Pugh of Chicago, IL; Megan Wiltshire of Missoula, MT; Cory Wiltshire of Mountain View, CA. She also has 11.5 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her honor may be sent to Columbus Hospice or Central Christian Church.
She donated her body to Medical College of GA and her final resting spot will be in Des Moines, IA next to her husband.
Memorial services will be held 2:00 PM Wednesday, December 21, 2016 at Covenant Woods (5424 Woodruff Farm Rd.) according to McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, GA 31907.
Born February 23, 1920 in Buffalo, NY to Henry S. and Josephine L. Lewis. Ever the nurse, teacher, volunteer and ultimate caring person, Dorothy always put others first. She graduated from Millard Filmore Hospital School of Nursing and Stephens College. A RN, she ended her career as a nursing instructor at Des Moines Area Community College, but she was forever teaching at every opportunity. She was an advocate for women's rights before it become fashionable and she encouraged the church to allow women in key roles. She was a volunteer at hospice since 1984, in Des Moines and Columbus. She was a member of the Religious Community Volunteer Network in Des Moines. Her volunteer work never stopped and new stories of her work surface everyday. She valued diversity and was constantly on the emerging side of social issues, challenging the status quo and speaking out against injustice.
Aside from her parents, she is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Rev. John E. Donovan, siblings Donald Lewis, John Lewis, Mary Smith and son-in-law Richard Wilcox.
Survivors include: her brother Richard Lewis (Carol) of Stuart, FL; son John B. Donovan of Dubuque, IA; daughters Mary Jo Pugh of Columbus, GA, Bette Jean Wilcox of Racine, WI and Daryl Ann Wiltshire (Bob) of Livingston, MT. Her nine grandchildren: Ryan Wilcox (Clemen) of Des Moines, IA; Kristi Wilcox of Racine, WI; Kyla Voye of Racine, WI; Colin Wilcox (Kelly) of Kenosha, WI; Todd King (Julie) of Columbus, GA; Aaron Pugh (Crystal) of Virginia Beach, VA; Adam Pugh of Chicago, IL; Megan Wiltshire of Missoula, MT; Cory Wiltshire of Mountain View, CA. She also has 11.5 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her honor may be sent to Columbus Hospice or Central Christian Church.
She donated her body to Medical College of GA and her final resting spot will be in Des Moines, IA next to her husband.
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