Newton, Dorothy (Knuth)

Dorothy (Knuth) Newton died peacefully Friday, Sept. 30, 2011, at the Vinton Lutheran Home. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, at the Presbyterian Church in Vinton with Pastor Fred Darbonne officiating. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton. Visitation will from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Phillips Family Center, 605 Second Ave., Vinton.

A memorial fund has been established.

Dorothy was born Dec. 9, 1918, on a farm in Eden Township, to Irwin and Elizabeth Knuth. On Feb. 10, 1937, she married Wallace Newton at her parents' home in Eden Township. The couple began farming in Cedar Township, west of Vinton. They farmed all their lives until retirement and later moved to Vinton in 1980.

Dorothy was a member of Pratt Creek Church in rural Vinton, until it closed in 1972. She then became a member of the Presbyterian Church where she also was a member of the Deacons. Dorothy was a member of the Virginia Gay Hospital Auxiliary for many years. She was a 51 year member of the Mount Auburn Legion Auxiliary, where she served as president. Dorothy also had served as president of the Benton County Chapter of the American Red Cross. She also enjoyed membership in the Cedar Township Farm Bureau Women's Club.

Dorothy enjoyed playing cards and visiting with people. One of her greatest gifts was the way she cooked. Everyone always knew who had made the coconut cream pie. Most of all Dorothy enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She loved watching all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren at all of their activities.

Her family will remember her as a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

She is survived by her sons, William (Teddi) Newton of Vinton, and John (Cindy) Newton of Paso Robles, Calif.; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, Chad (Kim) Newton and their children, Annabelle and Sophia of Vinton, Laurie (Mike) Ortner and their children, Brock, Brady and Brant of Shellsburg, Lance (Suzanne) Newton of Grover Beach, Calif., and Tyler (Julie) Newton and their son, Wesley of Templeton, Calif.; her brother, Lawrence Knuth of Vinton; and many nieces and nephews.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, Irwin and Elizabeth Knuth; husband, Wallace on Feb. 15, 1992; her brother, Ralph Knuth; sisters-in-law, Roberta and Millie Knuth; and nephew, Warren Wittmer.

Published in The Gazette Oct. 3, 2011.