Diane Kothe Dobson

Diane Kothe Dobson Former Resident of Oakland Diane Kothe Dobson, 70, a person of uncommon energy, enthusiasm and an overall zest for life, died on September 15, 2009 at her home in Palm Springs, CA. Diane brought joy to everyone she met. Her positive attitude and her uplifting spirit will continue to live in the memory of everyone whose life she touched. Born in 1939 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Diane was the first child of Charles and Janet Kothe, who are now deceased. She is survived by her three younger brothers: Charlie (Hurricane, UT); Jim (Charlotte, NC); and David (Topeka, KS). Diane graduated with a BA from Oberlin College and also received a Masters degree in Education from Columbia University. She moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where she was initially an elementary school teacher. She also served for several years as Arts Director for the Hayward Area Recreation District in Hayward, CA. While there, Diane founded the Adobe Art Gallery and A.R.T., Inc. (Artists Relaxing Together), an organization for artists in the Hayward/Castro Valley area. Diane was also an artist in her own right. She always had a beadwork, drawing or knitting project in progress. She also served as Assistant Program Director at Baywood Court, Castro Valley, CA. Dancing was always one of Diane's passions. Appropriately, it was in a folk dancing class where she first met Frank Dobson, the love of her life. Married in 1987, Diane and Frank shared not only a passion for dancing, but also for travel. Together they studied about and visited a variety of different countries. In the last few years, as Diane experienced declining health, Frank was her constant and vigilant care giver. His loving devotion to Diane has been an inspiration to both family and friends alike. Diane's greatest joy was in the garden. She loved the creativity of gardening, of bringing life not only to her backyard, but also to the gardens of her friends and neighbors. Diane had more than just a "green thumb," she was a real student of plant life. She knew the botanical names of almost every plant. Diane founded Wellspring Herbs through which she shared her appreciation and knowledge in programs to numerous garden and civic clubs, with a special emphasis on herbs. Trained as an educator, Diane was herself a life-long learner. She was interested in a wide range of subject matter, from politics, philosophy and art to gaining an understanding of how the human brain functions, especially in the area of memory. Each topic she pursued was studied seriously and explored in-depth. Family was always central to Diane. She had a special relationship with her mother, for whom she provided loving care during her mother's last years, which were spent near Diane in the Bay Area. Always a consummate planner, Diane organized a variety of special birthdays and reunions for her growing extended family. Her in-laws include: Jeannie Kothe (Hurricane, UT); Bev Kothe (Charlotte, NC); Laura Kothe (Topeka, KS); Chester "Chet" Dobson (Rancho Bernardo, CA); Terry Dobson (Sulphur, OK); Patricia Dusbabek (Pueblo, CO); Libbie Dobson (Petaluma, CA); and Dennis Dobson (Vallejo, CA). She was also "Aunt Diane" to several nephews and nieces, a grandnephew and a grandniece, including: Charlie, Lori and Sammy Kothe (Seattle, WA); Lisa Kothe (Kalamazoo, MI); Lesley Kothe, Stephanie Hopkins and Elizabeth Kothe Hopkins (San Francisco, CA); Jeff Kothe (Lakewood, CA); Thomas, Rachael and Sarah Kothe (Topeka, KS); Heather Marsalis (Flippin, AK); and Debbie Pence (La Plata, MD). Diane truly "never met a stranger." Wherever she lived, she had friends. All those who would like to make a contribution in her memory are encouraged to make a donation to the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission (P.O. Box 10660, Indio, CA 92202), which serves "the least, the last and the lost" in the Coachella Valley, the area in California where Palm Springs is located. Diane and Frank moved to Palm Springs in 2008 and she was especially interested in and supportive of the work of the CVRM. A celebration of the joyful life of Diane Kothe Dobson will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Walnut Creek, CA on Thursday, November 5, 2009 at 10:30 AM. If Diane touched your life, you are most welcome to attend.