Hilda Binder Dushek

Hilda Binder Dushek, nearly 86, passed away Friday, July 15, 2005, in Flagstaff, following a long, courageous battle with heart disease. She was an 85 year resident of Arizona, moving from Pennsylvania to Phoenix with her family and was the second youngest of 12 children. Her mother died when she was 10 years old in Phoenix. She was born on September 12, 1919 in New Castle, Pennsylvania to John and Sara Binder, Sr. and moved to Arizona when she was one year old. She was the last surviving member of the Binder Family and graduated from Phoenix Union High School before attending Arizona State Teachers College, where she met and married Al Dushek, a well known N.A.U. athlete and Lumberjack football player. She loved drama and was well known for her exceptional humor and loving smile. Hilda was the 1967 N.A.U. Homecoming dedicatee. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church of Phoenix, where she was Baptized. She was preceded in death by her husband, Allen M. Dushek, in 1990 and her son, James Duane Dushek, in 1968 and her sister Freda Hermanson in 2002. Hilda was a retired bookkeeper in the bookstore at N.A.U., where she worked over 26 years until her retirement. Hilda is survived by her son, Joseph Allen Dushek, of Las Vegas, two grandchildren, JoDee Ann Dushek, of Camp Verde; Robert Allen Dushek, of Lakeside, Minnesota; one great-grandson, Jacob Allen Dushek, age 10 of Minneapolis, and nieces, Mrs. Shirley Cartwright, of Payson, Arizona; Betty Lou Jones, of Phoenix; and Diane Fischer and Susan Driescher, of Cave Creek. Memorial services will be held Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. at the Norvel Owens Mortuary, 914 East Route 66, with Graveside services at the Flagstaff Citizens' Cemetery in Flagstaff to follow. The family suggests a donation to a favorite charity in lieu of flowers dedicated to the memory of Hilda Dushek.