Dorothy Levin

Dorothy Levin

Oak Ridge, TN

Dorothy "Dot" DeBerry Levin, age 87 died in her apartment at Greenfield Senior Living, surrounded by her family. She was a loving and caring mother to her children and step-children. Mrs. Levin was born August 6, 1928, in the family home located in Bloomington Springs, Tennessee. She was the daughter of Roy Thomas and Velma Grace Hamilton DeBerry. She started school at the age of four, attending a private boy's school owned by her parents, Junior Military Academy (JMA). She graduated from Cookeville High School at the age of 15 and graduated from Tennessee Polytechnic Institute (now Tennessee Technical University) at the age of 19. Mrs. Levin taught English at JMA before moving to Florida with her first husband, Jack Gibson. They moved to Oak Ridge in 1953, where they raised four children. After being a home-maker for a number of years, she pursued a personal passion of hers, fashion, opening The Pine Tree, a specialty clothing shop for women in Oak Ridge with her long-time friend, Helen Jernigan. Retiring after fourteen years in retail, she and her second husband, Seymour Levin, traveled extensively around the world. They also enjoyed ballroom dancing and were members of the Oak Ridge Dance Club. Mrs. Levin was a member of First Presbyterian Church. She was an avid supporter and benefactor of the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association (ORCMA), the Oak Ridge Playhouse, the Oak Ridge Civic ballet, the Oak Ridge Children's museum, the Oak Ridge Arts Council and the Knoxville Opera. She was also active in the Oak Ridge Women's Club, several area Bridge Clubs, Oak Ridge Institute of Continued Learning and the Oak Ridge Chorus for many years. Mrs. Levin was an active member of the Hadassah women's group in Oak Ridge and was named Hadassah woman of the year in 1996.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings, Millard DeBerry; Dr. J. T. DeBerry; Marion DeBerry; Nell Evans; and Edith Jones; her son John H. Gibson, Jr., her daughter Rebecca "Becky" Hamilton Gibson and the father of her children John H. Gibson, Sr.; as well as her husband of 28 years, Seymour Levin. She is survived by her sister Maxine Vaden and husband, Bill, of Oak Ridge; daughters Jane Gibson of Kingston, and Claudia Simpson and husband, Lynn, of Harriman and their son Jack Simpson. Surviving stepchildren are Dr. Stephen Levin and wife, Sharon, of Clayton, North Carolina; Natalie Levin and husband, Dennis Coohill, of New York City; Charles Levin and wife, Annette, of Knoxville; and Dr. Margaret Levin of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Also surviving, are grandchildren David Levin and wife, Shelley, of Juneau, Alaska; and Jonathan Levin of New York City; and daughter-in-law, Lil Gibson of St. Petersburg, Florida.

The family will receive friends Monday, April 4, 2016 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at Weatherford Mortuary. The funeral is Tuesday at 11:00 AM at Weatherford Mortuary with Rev. Matt Cannon officiating. Interment will follow at Oak Ridge Memorial Park. Serving as pallbearers are Stephen Levin, Charles Levin, Lynn Simpson, Jack Simpson, Bill Jones and Forrest Evans. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorials in her memory be given to ORCMA Guild, 320 Robertsville Road, Suite #1, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, The Oak Ridge Playhouse, 227 Broadway, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830 or a charity of the donor's choice. An on-line guest book can be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com.