Dorothy C. Donnelly

DONNELLY DOROTHY COX DONNELLY (Age 99) On Tuesday, August 2, 2011 of Bethesda, Maryland. Beloved wife of the late Charles Thomas Donnelly, loving mother of Patricia Anne Donnelly, and loving grandmother of Charles Thomas Donnelly-Justus, the light of her life. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews. Dorothy was raised on a 3,000 acre ranch in the Sand Hills of Nebraska where she developed her lifelong love of horses. She later moved to Los Angeles where she worked for the stockbroker Phelps Witter. She was planning to travel to New York to become a stockbroker herself when she received a call from a friend regarding a job for then newly-elected Member of Congress Richard Nixon. She made the decision to move across the country to Washington, D.C. in January of 1947 and has been a Washingtonian ever since. She worked for Mr. Nixon while he was in the House of Representatives, Senate, and continued to serve in his office during his Vice Presidency. Dorothy married her love, Charlie Donnelly, and they had one daughter, Patricia. Dorothy continued to pursue her hobbies of decoupage, sewing and designing, cooking, and gardening. She was an emeriti member of the Capital Speakers Club, a member of the Salvation Army Auxiliary, as well as the Springfield Garden Club. A strong supporter of women's rights, she remained active in politics for many years. Friends and family will be received at Joseph Gawler's and Sons Funeral Home on Monday, August 8 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, August 9 at 12 noon at the Church of the Little Flower, 5607 Massachusetts Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland. Interment Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Turning Point Center, c/o The Salvation Army, 2626 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20037.