Dorothy C. Wagoner

Longtime Kenai resident, Dorothy (Roberts) Wagoner, lost her battle with cancer on February 26th. Dorothy was born February 20, 1943 in Tonasket, Washington where she grew up. Dorothy attended Eastern Washington University where she received a BA in music education.  While at Eastern, she went on two USO tours to Asia with Eastern's pop group, The Collegians.  She met Tom at Eastern, and they were married for almost 60 years. She and her husband drove to Kenai in August of 1969, while her cousin flew up with their twin daughters soon after they arrived.  

Dorothy was the organist, piano player, and keyboardist for what is now the Kenai United Methodist Church beginning in 1972 and continuing to play and sing in the choir there until around 2019.  She was an active member of the Community Choir under the direction of Rene Henderson and a member of the Sweet Adelines.  Dorothy volunteered at the Kenai library, was a Girl Scout leader, and helped manage the carpet stores she and her husband owned. Dorothy enjoyed planting and maintaining her flowers in the spring and summer, playing music on her keyboard and singing, as well as having her grandkids, family, and friends at the house for a barbecue or fish fry. 

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, Lester and Ellen Roberts, and older brother Gene Roberts.  She is survived by her husband, Tom Wagoner, daughters Dawn Wagoner (Dennis Thompson) of Alaska, Denise (Bill) Engberg of California, grandsons William Brighton and Joseph Brighton, brother Gary (Shirley) Roberts and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

The family plans to have a memorial service sometime in July.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to a fund that they have set up at First National Bank of Alaska, Account #71002158.  These funds will be used to help purchase instruments for students who want to learn to play an instrument but can't afford to buy one. The family hopes that the music Dorothy loved will continue on in a new generation.