Dotty Catherine Miller

BLUEFIELD, Va. — Dotty Catherine Dollinger Miller, 86, of Bluefield, Va., formerly of Jenkinjones, W.Va., died June 5, 2008, at her home in Bluefield, Va. She was born on December 3, 1921, in Rugby (Grayson County), Va. She was the fourth of thirteen children born to the late Frank Jerome Dollinger and Inez Blevins Dollinger.At age 5 Mrs. Miller moved with her family to Jenkinjones, W.Va. where her father relocated to find work to feed his growing family. After marriage, in 1939, to the late Rudy Paul Miller, they lived in Anawalt, O'toole, and Little Creek, W.Va. When the mines shut down the family moved to Rocky Mount, Va. and then to Boones Mill, Va. Later, she would return to and remain in Jenkinjones until 1961 when the family settled in Bluefield, Va.In 1968, after the death of her husband, Rudy, she learned about life on the outside of her immediate children and her home. She now became Mom and Dad to her family. She had to learn to drive a car, make all the financial decisions, do the grocery shopping, tend to farm animals, maintain a home as well as additional properties for which she was responsible. She also learned to bowl and enjoyed the game and the many new friends she made. Later she worked for Junior Mariotti in the nursery of Mountaineer Bowling Lanes in Bluefield, W.Va. She thoroughly enjoyed working for Mr. Mariotti and the interaction with the children until she left the job for health reasons and settled down at home.Besides her husband and parents, she was also preceded in death by a daughter, Edra Eleanor Miller; grandson, Gary Paul Thompson; 4 brothers: Rudy Randolph Dollinger; James C. Dollinger; J. Elwood Dollinger and Earl Dollinger; 3 sisters: Beatrice M. Dollinger Miller; Grace L. Dollinger Farmer; and Ollie Dollinger; 2 nephews: Robert (Bobby) Dollinger; and Randy Farmer.She is survived by 4 daughters and their husbands: Edith Miller Yates and Wade of North Tazewell, Va.; Ferne Miller Martin and Phillip of Pax, W.Va.; Rita Miller Scarberry of Nashville, Tenn.; D. Jane Miller Jenkins and Alan of Waynesville, N.C.; 6 sons and their wives (all of Bluefield, Va.): Richard Stevenson Miller and Veronica; Franklin Elwood Miller; James Edward Miller; Paul Lee and Patricia Sue Miller; Lloyd Wayne Miller; and Barry Virgil and Betty Jane Miller.She is also survived by 2 sisters, and 2 brothers: Ola N. Dollinger Hypes, Abbs Valley, Va.; Gladys M. Dollinger Hughes and J. Alfred of North Tazewell, Va.; Wiley Joseph (Pete) Dollinger and Jan of Ackworth, Ga.; Frank J. Dollinger, Jr., Atlanta, Ga.She also leaves: 19 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; 9 nephews and 7 nieces.She had 3 new friends who became very special to her and the family. They were Ms. Melanie Mills, Ms. Melinda Halsey and Ms. Robyn Oxford of Total Home Care and Hospice of Bluefield, Va.Friends may call from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 7 at the Dudley Memorial Mortuary in Bluefield, Va.Pallbearers will be relatives and friends of the family.Funeral Services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Sunday, June 8, 2008, at the Dudley Memorial Mortuary in Bluefield, Va. with the Rev. Jimmy Sanson officiating.Interment will be in the Cemetery of Tuckerdale Baptist Church in Tuckerdale, N.C.Memorial donations may be made to the Total Home Care and Hospice of Bluefield, Va.To leave personal condolences online, visit www.legacy.com