DOROTHY H. FOWERBAUGH

DOROTHY H. FOWERBAUGH, 90, passed away Thursday, March 23, 2023, in Fort Wayne. Born in June, 1932, in Boston, Mass., Dorothy was the daughter of Leo and Agnes Halloran. Her love of reading, academics, music and sports began at an early age. A lifelong fan of her beloved Boston Red Sox, "Dotty" was a catcher on softball teams and an avid tennis player. The fact that she made it to her teens - was itself a miracle. The little toddler with "Shirley Temple" curls, Dorothy spent a year in a hospital bed and was not expected to live past 18. Yet in 1949, Dorothy enrolled at Simmons College and received her B.A. in Home Sciences. She taught high school students in Connecticut and later worked as a textbook editor for a publishing firm based in Boston. Dorothy met her husband, Richard, "Dick", while completing her M.A. degree from Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. They married in 1960 with brother-in-law, Rev. F. Raymond Fowerbaugh, as officiant. They made their home in Fort Wayne and raised six children while simultaneously running an egg business, tending a flock of sheep, actively working with school P.T.A.'s, and cooking wonderful meals. Also a talented seamstress, Dorothy would design her own patterns for suits and dresses and fashion them from beautiful and challenging materials. Dotty loved seeing her children excel in academics, music, art and sports; especially the many years spent as an Elmhurst High School band booster and vocal fan of her sports playing sons. She played a pivotal role as teacher, cheerleader and 24-7 editor long before the internet and "google" searches existed. Genealogy, research, and a love of music, cultivated by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops were passions Dorothy passed on to her children. Family trips and traveling adventures in retirement with her husband, which included trips to Europe, Australia, New Zealand and all corners of the U.S. were greatly enjoyed. Dotty and Dick made a wonderful life together. Dorothy was also a loving mother to John (Marguerite), Karen, Paul (Betsy), Kurt, Mark (Kimberly) Fowerbaugh, and son-in-law, Robert Chandler. She was also a devoted "Gram" to 16 grandchildren and one step-grandchild. She was preceded in death by husband of 51 years, Richard; and daughter, Jeanne Fowerbaugh Chandler. "Mom's self-sacrifice was born out of a deeply rooted faith and unconditional love for her family which made Dorothy - "Gift of God" - our miracle." Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, March 31, 2023, at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 1102 S. Clinton St., Fort Wayne, with calling at 9 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited to join Dorothy's children to pay respects and trade memories from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 30, 2023, at Divine Mercy Funeral Home, 3500 Lake Ave., Fort Wayne, with a Rosary service at 7:30 p.m. Preferred memorials are for Masses at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception or to the Cathedral Preservation Fund. To sign the online guestbook, visit www.divinemercyfuneralhome.com