Dorothy W. Newton

Dorothy W. "Doady" Newton, age 87, passed away Saturday, May 3, 2003, at Valencia Woods, AdamsTownship, ButlerCounty. Born April 26, 1916 in Medford, Mass., she was an artist throughout her life, experimenting in a variety of mediums, of which her favorite was "Shiva," learned from artist Chester Snowden of Houston, Texas. Her equal passion was giving back to the community, through volunteer work. However, her claim to fame in the Pittsburgharea came in 1986 when she was featured in the June 18 edition of The Herald for surviving, at age 70, the May 30 flood of the creek along Saxonburg Boulevard. She had been at the old Stumpf's on Harts Run and Saxonburg collecting for Meals on Wheels, when it started to rain. She was urged to move her car to higher ground but, after starting the car, a "wall of water" hit as a result of the creek flooding. Unbelievably, she plunged into the water outside her car, which likely saved her life. She was rescued by local fireman as the waters receded, after clinging to the front doors of DeBaldo's (the neighboring gas station) for hours. She studied painting at the Museum of Fine Arts in Worster, Mass.; the Jewish Community Center in Houston, Texas; with Chester Snowden; and at a variety of classes. As both an artist and aspiring poet, she was a longtime member of the National League of American Pen Women, the Houston and Pittsburghchapters, holding various officer positions at both throughout the years. Pen Women is a national group composed of women who are involved in all forms of art, from writing and music to sculpture and painting. At various points in her life, she was also a member of the Creative Arts League; Baycrafter's Arts and Crafts; The Art League of Houston, Texas; Scribblers (Houston); The Lone Star Art Guild, Texas; Poetry Society of Texas, Houston Chapter; Southwestern Water Color Society; the National Museum of Women in the Arts; and The International Platform Association. She and another woman of the Houston Chapter of Pen Women attended a reception at the White House in the early 1970s as part of the Pen Women's Diamond Jubilee a their Washington, D.C. headquarters. She was also active in garden clubs in Houstonand in Pittsburgh(the Woodland Garden Club) part of the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania. A longtime member of the Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, she was active in a wide range of volunteer activities, including visiting those in nursing homes, caring for children, sewing to fundraise, Meals on Wheels, the church Fall Fair, the Christmas stocking project for shut-ins, the Presbyterian Women and other projects and activities. She received various honors, awards and prizes for her art throughout the years. She also received recognition in the 1972 Two Thousand Women of Achievement and the 1974-75 World Who'sWho of Women. Her husband of almost 60 years, Robert A. Newton Jr., died March 21, 2002. She is survived by three children; Robert A. Newton III of Reading, Mass., Ronald C. Newton of Houston, Texas and Wendelynne J. Newton of McCandless; seven grandchildren; sister, Alice Coolidge of Poland, Maine; and brother, Edgar White of Phoenix, Ariz. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Richard L. Newton of Winston-Salem, N.C.; brothers, Horace White and Herbert White; and sister, Marion Robinson. She was a loving and giving woman who brightened spirits everywhere she went. A Memorial Service was held May 11 at the Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, 384 Fox Chapel Road, FoxChapel. Arrangements by the WEDDELL-AJAK FUNERAL HOME, Aspinwall.Memorial contributions may be made to the memory of "Doady" Newton, c/o of Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, 384 Fox Chapel Road, Pittsburgh, PA15238.