South Egremont — Doretha (Dottie) Ann Smith Palmer, a fifty-year resident of South Egremont, Massachusetts passed away in the late evening of Monday, January 26, 2015 after several years of struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was 86 years old.
Dottie was born the daughter of a coal miner and a teacher in the Western Pennsylvania town of Strattanville. She grew up in a house without indoor plumbing that her father built and as a high school girl played piano in her mother’s beloved Methodist Church.
While many of her classmates at Clarion High School were content to live their lives in Western Pennsylvania, Dottie had dreams of seeing more of the world and set out to do just that. In 1946 right after graduation Dottie packed her suitcase, got on the bus and headed off to the big city, Pittsburgh, where she entered school to become a nurse. Pittsburgh was her home for the next five years as she completed her education at the West Penn Hospital School of Nursing and she stayed on working on the medical/surgical and psychiatric units.
As her career expanded Dottie chose a path not many women of her time pursued. In 1951 she enlisted as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force and her career as a flight nurse began. A favorite family picture is one of Dottie rappelling off a cliff during Escape and Evasion School. From 1953 until 1955 Dottie served with the 6481st Medical Air Evacuation Group stationed in Seoul and Tokyo. While serving her country at war Dottie earned numerous commendations, including a battle star and was promoted to first lieutenant.
Dottie’s life was changed when she met Wayne, a pilot in the 344th Troop Carrier Squadron, and after returning to the States they married and soon returned to civilian life. Dottie was a devoted wife and mother putting her career on hold while she raised a family. In 1965 Wayne, Dottie and the kids returned to his hometown and settled in the Berkshires.
As the kids started growing up Dottie became active in a number of activities that made the Berkshires a better place to live. She was an active member of the Fairview Hospital Auxiliary raising funds to support the Hospital and volunteering on the floor. At her father-in-law’s urging Dottie was also the person who made the old Great Barrington Horse Show run, volunteering an immense amount of time to this venture.
Dottie resumed her professional career when the boys got into high school and she worked for a number of years at Fairview Hospital as a nurse administrator before finishing her career working with Wayne at Berkshire GMC as they grew this business from the ground up.
After retiring Wayne and Dottie split their time between Dunnellon, Florida and South Egremont. Dottie enjoyed making many new friends in Florida and loved Rainbow Springs Park where she volunteered. She was a member of the James A. Modolo Post # 8348, the Thursday Morning Club, the Fairview Hospital Auxillary, and Women in the Military in Washington, D.C. Dottie is survived by her husband of 59 years, Wayne, and her children, Brian and his wife Michelle, of Sheffield and Bruce and his wife Peg, of Lander, Wyoming. Dottie leaves five grandchildren, Allysa, Justin, Clay, Cole and Loren and two great grandchildren Leeyha and Carmon.
Funeral services for Doretha (Dottie) Ann Smith Palmer, who died Monday January 26, will be held on Saturday, January 31, at 10:30 a.m. at the BIRCHES-ROY FUNERAL HOME with the Reverend Bruce N. Teague officiating. Burial with Military Honors will follow in Hillside Cemetery, Egremont. Family will receive friends on Friday, January 30 from 4-7 p.m. at the BIRCHES-ROY FUNERAL HOME. In lieu of flowers family requests that expressions of sympathy in Dottie’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer Association in care of the funeral home at 33 South Street Great Barrington, MA. 01230 Condolences may be made through birchesroyfuneralservices.com.
